Eric Johnson

Mahima Sharma

The federal government has stepped up in a significant way on climate action by setting ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate our move to a lower carbon economy. And as the late Jim Carr, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources from 2015 to 2018 often said, there is no path to a net zero carbon economy without Canadian forestry and forest products from Canada’s sustainably managed forests. …In his recent report to Parliament, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Gerry V. DeMarco noted that Canada’s forests are becoming a net source of emissions because of forest fires and disturbances caused by insect outbreaks, which are now among the biggest threats to our nation’s climate targets. The increasing catastrophic nature of wildfires in recent years is a result of climate change. As such, we must prioritize proactive forest management with a focus on climate adaptation. …Managing our forests and using carbon-storing wood products in the built environment are powerful tools as we work to adapt to a warming climate. 

…Delivering further GHG reductions for the country will require targeted and regionally optimized forest management, industrial operations, and most importantly more strategic industrial policy from our federal government. …To remain competitive in the global forestry and clean technology markets, Canada must act swiftly to ensure its tax incentives align with those offered by other countries, particularly the United States. …The time is now for Canada to seize the opportunity presented by its abundant biomass resources and incorporate the technologies that convert these residues into electricity into its ITC programs under a more comprehensive industrial strategy for the sector. By doing so, the country can unlock the immense social, economic, and environmental benefits of this sustainable energy source, while maintaining its competitiveness on the global stage. Investing in Canada’s forestry and clean technology sectors – and understanding their essential role in the fight against climate change – has never been more important.