Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development Strategy 1997

Safeguarding our Assets, Securing our Future

Goal 3, Objective 3.1

Trends in energy efficiency. Reported in 1999-2000.

What Does the Graph Mean?

• In order to isolate and relate trends in energy efficiency,
  a factorization methodology was used to attribute the change in
  energy use from 1990 to 1998 across four factors: activity, structure,
  weather and energy efficiency.
• Secondary energy use increased by 9.2%.
• The aggregate activity (GDP) increased by 16.6%.
• Aggregate energy intensity (E/GDP) decreased by 6.3%.
• The OEE Energy Efficiency Index improved by 6.0%.

NRCan's Contribution

Several factors have contributed to saving energy. Among these
are the efforts of NRCan's many initiatives aimed at moving
the market toward improved energy efficiency. These 15 initiatives
collectively targeted all energy consumers and emphasize partnerships
and economic investments.

For example, the Commercial Buildings Incentive Program (CBIP)
offers support for the design of new buildings that are constructed
to be at least 25% more efficient than the Model National Energy
Code for Buildings. This financial incentive helps to offset the
incremental cost associated with designing energy efficient buildings.
As of March 2000, 42 buildings were covered by CIBP, agreements
involving $1.97 million in financial incentives.

What's Next?

As a key element in Canada's response to the Climate Change
issue, NRCan's programs aim at improving energy efficiency
in all sectors of the Canadian economy. In addition, NRCan has established
the National Energy Use Database (NEUD) to improve our understanding
of where and how energy is used in Canada. It provides information
to track progress, improve Canada's analytical capability and
identify opportunities to further improve energy efficiency.

NRCan is heavily involved in the consultations and analysis being
undertaken to follow up on the work of the 15 Issue Tables established
under the National Climate Change Process.

Goal 3, Objective 3.1

Progress towards the identification of impacts and adaptation measures.
Reported in 2000-01.

What Does the Graph Mean?

• The graph demonstrates the increased impacts and adaptation
  research activity on key topics. The largest increase is in the
  water resources sector; information which is critical to other sectors
  such as agriculture and communities.
• The regional distribution of projects reflected the issues
  of concern to different regions of Canada.

NRCan's Contribution

• The Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF) Impacts & Adaptation
  program, managed by NRCan's Adaptation Liaison Office, provided
  funding for 76 projects that increased the understanding of impacts
  and contributed to adaptation measure development across the country.
• NRCan's A-base supported 16 projects in its core areas
  of expertise - landscapes, hazards, energy, water resources and
  coastal zone management. Key results included:
• analysis of the risks of sea level rise for Charlottetown,
  Prince Edward Island and development of a storm surge model to provide
  warnings for current storms;
• estimates of the risk posed by permafrost degradation to
  infrastructure in two northern communities and a template for analysis
  of other northern communities;
• development of a model for road and pipeline route selection
  in terrain underlain by permafrost;
• the first estimates of the impacts of climate change on
  Canadian groundwater resources;
• identification of key gaps and climate change impacts and
  adaptation research priorities in Canada's North.
• NRCan also worked on research aimed at assisting forest
  managers plan for the future by providing insights into regional
  implications of fire, pests, disease and winter dieback. NRCan research,
  based on sophisticated simulation models, suggests that the average
  area burned may increase by as much as 50% over the next 50 years
  and may be increasing already. This increase would mean about 1%
  of Canada's forest would burn every year and much of that would
  probably not regenerate as forest.
• For additional information, refer to: http://www.adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca

What's Next?

• The extension of the CCAF along with the Government of Canada
  Action Plan 2000 will result in a tripling of the investment in
  the Impacts and Adaptation program. Greater emphasis will be placed
  on adaptation measure development.
• In addition to increased research activity, a Canadian Climate
  Impacts and Adaptation Research Network will become fully operational
  in 2001. It will help engage new expertise and stakeholders, and
  facilitate faster exchange of research results

Goal 3, Objective 3.1

Greenhouse Gas Emissions compared to Kyoto Protocol. Reported in
1999-2000.

What Does the Graph Mean?

• As the economy and Canadian population grow, so too does
  energy use and hence GHG emissions. Dips in the graph are caused
  mainly by recessions, e.g. 1982.
• The Kyoto target is shown by the 565 Megatonnes of carbon
  dioxide (CO2) for the 2008-2012 period, a level last achieved in
  1987.Meeting this target is of particular importance to NRCan as
  some 80% of GHG emissions are energy-related.
• Canada has made progress in bringing emissions under control,
  even as the economy and population expand.
• Achieving the Kyoto target in a way that won't hamper
  economic growth is a significant challenge.

NRCan's Contribution

• Technology Early Action Measures – TEAM accelerates
  the pace of deployment of new, more energy efficient, technologies.
  Investments of $55 million over 3 years have leveraged more than
  10 times that amount from partners. Projects to date have the potential
  to reduce GHG emissions by 50Mt by 2010.
• Science Impacts and Adaptation – The Prairie Adaptation
  Research Cooperative in Regina was formed to better understand the
  effects of climate change on regions and on human activity so as
  to assess possible impacts and adaptation options.
• Public Education and Outreach – This initiative has
  been co-chaired by NRCan and Environment Canada. NRCan continues
  to co-manage the public education and outreach component of the
  CCAF to improve awareness and understanding of climate change and
  encourage appropriate action.
• Foundation Analysis – Canada's Emissions Outlook
  update was published, providing a reference scenario for the multi-stakeholder
  consultations and strategy.

Next Steps

• The Government of Canada is working towards the finalization
  of a National Implementation Strategy.
• NRCan continues to work with Environment Canada and Foreign
  Affairs and International Trade Canada to develop Canada's
  positions on key issues for negotiation at the 6th Conference of
  the Parties (CoP6), and particularly, the framework for a ratifiable
  package, e.g., the elaboration of efficient and unfettered Kyoto
  market-based mechanisms, the comprehensive inclusion of carbon sinks
  and the engagement of all major developed and developing economies
  in the implementation of the Protocol.

Goal 3, Objective 3.1
GHG emissions to GDP ratio compared to other countries. Reported
in 1999-2000.

What Does the Graph Mean?

• This chart compares the carbon efficiency (i.e. ratio of
  GHG emissions to economic output) of six OECD industrialized countries.
• If a country's line goes up, the emissions intensity
  of the economy performance is worsening.
• Canada shows a steady increase in carbon efficiency over
  time, comparing favourably to four of the five other countries.
  Only the U.K. has performed better, mainly as a result of a switch
  from coal to natural gas for electrical generation.
• Canada's improving emissions performance is also the
  result of switching to less carbon-intensive fuels, and greater
  energy efficiency.

NRCan's Contribution

• Buildings: .NRCan established and managed the successful
  Green Building Challenge, an international project to develop and
  test new methods to assess the environmental performance of buildings.
• With partners in the private sector, NRCan developed the
  world's most advanced biomass-fired pellet stove.
• Transportation: NRCan raised awareness on more climate-friendly
  vehicles and fuels by organizing and sponsoring events such as the
  Electrathon, the Future Car Challenge, Sunrayce and the Ethanol
  Vehicle Challenge.
• NRCan helped develop technology to determine the cetane
  level of diesel fuel, earning it a Federal Partners in Technology
  Transfer Award.
• Industry: NRCan field tested a gas turbine operating on
  a fuel with significantly lower emissions. Since power generation
  accounts for about 20% of GHG emissions, the potential for this
  new process is enormous.
• NRCan transferred technology to be used in 45 pulp and paper
  mills that has the potential to reduce water consumption by 80%
  and CO2 emissions by 25,000 t/y.

What's Next?

• NRCan continues to put strong emphasis on increasing energy
  efficiency throughout the economy.
• NRCan also works to promote the use of renewable energy,
  and has committed to reporting on trends in this area in the 2002
  departmental performance report.
• NRCan's Energy Technology Futures initiative, which
  contributes to climate change awareness and mitigation strategies
  through the gathering and dissemination of information on future
  energy scenarios, is informing Canadian and international agencies
  about strategic directions and developments with regard to possible
  energy futures and responses.

Goal 3, Objective 3.1

Trends in energy efficiency. Reported in 1998-99.

What Does the Graph Mean?

• Between 1990 and 1997, energy use increased mainly
  because of changes in activity, structure and weather.
• Changes in energy efficiency kept energy use from increasing
  more than it otherwise would have over this period. The potential
  growth in energy use was reduced from 17.3% to 12.9% due to improvements
  in energy efficiency.
• This reduction in energy use saved Canadians an estimated
  $4.4 billion/year and reduced CO2 by 4.1 per cent since 1997.

NRCan's Contribution

• Several factors have contributed to saving energy.
  Among these are the efforts of NRCan's Office of Energy Efficiency
  (OEE) which manages and operates 18 energy efficiency initiatives.
  These initiatives are aimed at moving the market toward improved
  energy efficiency. Initiatives target all energy consumers emphasize
  partnerships and economic investments.

• The OEE uses five basic policy tools in pursuing its
  vision of "Leading Canadians to energy efficiency at home,
  at work and on the road". These policy tools are:
  1. leadership, shown by increasing energy efficiency in federal
     operations;
  2. information, to advise energy users of efficiency opportunities;
  3. voluntary actions, by which manufacturers of energy using equipment
     and major energy users commit to improving energy efficiency;
  4. regulations, to eliminate inefficient products from the market;
     and
  5. fiscal incentives, to encourage the use of energy-efficient
     technologies and practices

Next Steps

• At Kyoto, Japan in December 1997, Canada committed
  to reduce emissions to six per cent below 1990 levels between 2008
  and 2012. Current projections show that additional effort will be
  required to meet this target.
• In the 1998 federal budget, the Government of Canada
  allocated $50 million per year for three years to the Climate Change
  Action Fund to develop a national implementation strategy and some
  early measures to address climate change. The OEE is playing a key
  role in the national climate change consultation process. This process
  will lead to the development of a realistic and effective climate
  change national implementation strategy aimed at the Kyoto target.

Goal 3, Objective 3.2

Environmental influence of NRCan's science, technology and stewardship
practices. Reported in 2000-01.

What Does the Graph Mean?

• The graph shows the annual average levels of five significant
  air pollutants in Canadian cities - carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous
  oxide (NO2), ground-level ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and
  Total Suspended Particulates (TSP). Values for each pollutant have
  been normalized to 1985 levels.
• Most air pollution is the result of combustion of fossil
  fuels in vehicles, home furnaces, industrial operations and thermal
  power generation plants.
• All pollutants except O3 show a general downward trend,
  in spite of urban growth and an increase in the number of emission-producing
  activities, such as an increase in the number of vehicles.
• O3 is the result of sunlight on nitrogen oxides and volatile
  organic compounds such as benzene, which comes primarily from unburned
  gasoline in vehicle exhausts. Its source in Canadian centres is
  frequently the USA.

NRCan's Contribution

• NRCan addresses the issue of air quality by developing
  and promoting technologies, programs and new knowledge for the reduction
  of pollutants generated through the production, conversion and use
  of energy. Initiatives include:
• Developing and promoting technologies and processes for
  greater energy efficiency, such as lightweight materials, integrated
  industrial processes, and energy efficient buildings.
• Developing advanced combustion and pollution abatement technologies
  for efficient stationary combustion processes.
• Developing clean-burning alternative fuels and advanced
  propulsion systems (e.g. gaseous fuels, alcohols, biofuels, hydrogen,
  fuel cells, electric vehicles and hybrids and related systems)
• Improving biomass production technology for biofuels from
  forest residues, including harvesting residues, noncommercial timber
  and brush species.

What's Next?

NRCan's initiatives, undertaken in partnerships, will help
reduce the adverse impacts from global warming, acid rain and smog,
especially in urban areas.

In February 2001, the Government of Canada announced an investment
of $120 million in new measures to accelerate action on clean air,
including in the areas of cleaner fuels, reduction of smog-causing
emissions from industrial sectors, and abatement technologies for
particulates.

As well, through its federal Program of Energy R&D (PERD),
NRCan will continue to target cleaner and more fuel efficient transportation,
as well as reduced industrial emissions. New technologies such as
fuel cells, and electric and hybrid vehicles are at various stages
of development but will need some time before they impact urban
air quality and regulations governing trans-boundary air pollutants.

A key factor in improving vehicle efficiency is its weight - for
every 10 percent reduction in vehicle weight, there is a six to
eight percent improvement in fuel efficiency and a reduction in
the release of atmospheric pollutants. NRCan will continue to coordinate
the Canadian Lightweight Materials Research Initiative (CliMRI),
a government/industry partnership, whose research areas include
technologies for the design of lightweight materials, and manufacturing
processes to produce parts from these materials to be used in transportation
applications.

Goal 3, Objective 3.3

User satisfaction with aeronautical charts. Reported in 1998-99.
Under NRCan's current Performance Measurement Framework, this item
is Goal 4, Objective 4.2.

Number of Discrepancy Management Reports per 56-Day Aeronautical Cycle

What Does the Graph Mean?

• The graph shows the total number of Discrepancy Management
  Reports (DMRs) raised per 56-day aeronautical cycle and the number
  of those closed within the same cycle.
• A DMR can be a client complaint, or any kind of concern raised
  to the departments attention. Each concern will be investigated
  and reported back to the originator.
• NRCan expects to have closed and resolved at least 45%
  of DMRs within the same cycle, and the graph shows that this expectation
  is consistently met or exceeded.
• DMRs are addressed in accordance with the ISO 9001 standard.

NRCan's Contribution

NRCan's Aeronautical and Technical Services (ATS)
works for the safety of Canadians by:

• publishing Canada's aeronautical charts, essential
  to the safety and efficiency of aviation in Canada;
• managing the Emergency Mapping Program;
• imaging and printing topographic maps, hydrographic charts
  and other cartographic products used for navigation, search and
  rescue.

Next Steps

• To reflect the changing needs of the aviation community,
  the ATS group has begun offering aeronautical information in digital
  form. This includes information from the Canadian Aeronautical Charts
  database as well as digital charts and electronic publications.
• The four High Enroute charts were replaced on 25 March
  1999, with a new series of six charts covering Canada. NRCan will
  monitor client reactions to this major improvement.

Goal 3, Objective 3.3

Impact of NRCan's science and technology on the identification,
mitigation and response to natural hazards. Reported in 1999-2000.
Under NRCan's current Performance Measurement Framework, this item
is Goal 4, Objective 4.1.

What Does the Graph Mean?

The graph shows the standard that NRCan has set in which the department
can provide different kinds of maps

We have documented (compliant with our ISO 9001 quality management
system) emergency mapping procedures that enable effective emergency
response planning by the Minister of the Department of National
Defence. The existing standards that NRCan has set are:

• Within 8 hours NRCan will supply an existing set of in stock
  maps;
• Within 24 hours NRCan will supply any existing set of out
  of stock maps;
• Within 48 hours NRCan will produce a customized map
  to service emergency requirements.

NRCan's Contribution

• In September 1999 NRCan participated in VALIDEX, the
  government-wide exercise to test the readiness of Federal Departments
  to respond to emergencies that may arise. NRCan emergency mapping
  response met all of the standards of this exercise.
• In a national emergency, the maps which NRCan publishes
  can help save lives and protect property by guiding the efforts
  of rescuers. For example, during the Ice Storm of 1998, NRCan topographical
  maps were used by military and civilian emergency organizations
  to coordinate responses.
• In collaboration with Emergency Preparedness Canada
  and the Department of National Defence, NRCan ensures mapping resources
  are available for emergency response planning and on-site tactical
  operations.

Next Steps

• NRCan will explore ways to:
• confirm emergency mapping needs and technological opportunities
  with client agencies.
• acquire digital presses and convert paper maps to a
  digital format that can be reprinted on demand
• improve disaster management preparedness for targeted
  areas at high risk from events such as earthquakes, landslides and
  floods.