Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions are mounting, but in no thanks to the pulp and paper industry.
Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions are mounting, but in no thanks to the pulp and paper industry.
In a three part series, the Montreal Gazette recently showcased the Kyoto accord and the headway (or lack thereof) Canada has made in terms of meeting the goals it set out. According to the report, Canada’s annual output of GHG has increased from 596 megatonnes in 1990, to 740 megatonnes in 2003, due to a thriving economy, urbanization and a strong reliance on cars. Instead of contributing to this increase, the pulp and paper industry has done its share to make its operations more environmentally conscious, and has served as an example for other industries.
"Unlikely success stories in industrial sectors such as pulp and paper and aluminum are paving the way for more efficient. And benign, business practices," the Gazette reported.
As president and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada Avrim Lazar pointed out in an address to the Global Environment Group at McGill University on November 23rd, Canada’s forest products sector has taken great pains to reduce its environmental footprint.
"The forest products sector has already surpassed Canada’s Kyoto targets by more than four times, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 28% while increasing production by 30% for an improvement in emissions intensity of 44%," he said.
Lazar listed some of the steps the industry has taken to address GHG, which involved the investment of over $3 billion annually in facility upgrades and innovative practices
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