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Released: 06 November, 2003
Government of Canada and Canadian Pulp and Paper Industry Agree on Blueprint for Climate Change Action
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
today signed a climate change Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
the Forest Products Association
of Canada (FPAC). It sets out key elements of a climate change agreement
between the Government and the pulp and paper industry, including a commitment
by the industry to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity
by an average of 15 percent by 2008 to 2012, the first Kyoto commitment
period.
The Prime Minister was joined at the event by Herb Dhaliwal, Minister
of Natural Resources Canada; David Anderson, Minister of the Environment;
and Avrim Lazar, President and CEO of FPAC.
The MoU marks the first agreement with industry to implement the strategy
set out in the Climate Change Plan for Canada released last November.
It outlines an approach that the pulp and paper industry will take to
reduce GHG emissions to achieve its share of the 55-megatonne commitment
for Canada’s large final emitters.
"Climate change is a challenge we all share, and we all have a
responsibility to do our part,” said Prime Minister Chrétien. "This
partnership with pulp and paper companies is a blueprint for how we can
work with industry to make real progress in implementing the Climate
Change Plan for Canada.”
"The pulp and paper industry is a large and diverse sector that
forms a vital part of the Canadian economy. With the signing of this
agreement,
it is demonstrating continuing leadership on climate change and sustainable
development,” said Minister Dhaliwal. "For our part, this
agreement signals the Government of Canada’s intention to take
an integrated approach to climate change policies as they apply to the
forestry sector and to provide maximum flexibility in achieving real
reductions.”
"Partnership, and the need for all sectors and all Canadians to
play a part, are fundamental principles of the Climate Change Plan
for Canada,” said
Minister Anderson. "Through its success in reducing emissions in
the past, and with this renewed commitment, Canada’s pulp and paper
industry is showing it is determined to be a full partner with Canadians
in pursuing our national environmental goals.”
According to Avrim Lazar, President and CEO of FPAC, the agreement represents "an
extension of our industry’s long-term commitment to continuous
environmental improvements. While we’ve led Canadian industry in
emissions reductions for more than a decade, we are willing to go further
in helping Canada meet its Kyoto commitments.” Mr. Lazar added
that Canada’s forest industry has already reduced its GHG emissions
by 22 percent below 1990 levels, while increasing its output by 21 percent.
The agreement covers companies with operations in every region of Canada
involved in the production of pulp, newsprint, paperboard and other paper
products. It recognizes the unique structure of the industry, including
the integrated nature of the production of solid wood products and pulp
and paper within many companies.
The guiding principles in the agreement are consistent with government
commitments to industry made in the Climate Change Plan for Canada. The
agreement addresses a number of key areas, including emissions reductions
for the first commitment period, designing ways to assess early actions
by industry leaders, greater reliance on low-emissions energy sources
like biomass and combined heat and power (co-generation), future incentives
to increase research and development in carbon-reducing technologies,
and a policy framework to recognize the benefits of investments in long-term
forest management in meeting Canada’s climate change objectives.
The agreement recognizes that an effective compliance system will need
to be designed. This system should provide flexibility, and include emissions
permit trading, forest "sinks” and forest management and
production activities. The parties will work together to better understand
the impact of forest management practices on carbon and Canada’s
national accounting of GHG emissions.
The agreement provides a blueprint for action in which the Government
will work closely with the participating pulp and paper companies to
respond to the challenge of climate change.
Under the Climate Change Plan for Canada, large final emitters are
to reduce their GHG emissions by 55 megatonnes. This amounts to a 15-percent
reduction in emission intensities from the Government’s business-as-usual
forecast for 2010. Large final emitters are companies that produce goods
in emissions-intensive sectors, including energy, electricity and selected
mining and manufacturing. Discussions will continue with other industry
sectors.
For more information, media may contact:
PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555
The following two media backgrounders are also available:
- FPAC & Government of Canada Memorandum
of Understanding Respecting Action on Climate Change
- Large Final Emitters Group
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