Canada's Cement Industry Welcomes Ontario's Climate Action Plan

This plan is a comprehensive approach that will give industry the tools to effectively reduce GHG emissions across Ontario, while helping industry remain competitive

OTTAWA, June 8, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The Cement Association of Canada (CAC) congratulates the Ontario government and the leadership being shown by Premier Wynne and Minister Murray on the release of its world-leading Climate Action Plan. This plan will help ensure that Ontario meets and exceeds its 2020, 2030 and 2050 GHG reduction targets.

Furthering its leadership in phasing out coal from the electricity sector, the Wynne government is now enabling emissions-intensive trade-exposed (EITE) industries, like cement, to reduce their own reliance on coal. The Plan earmarks $40-$60 million to help EITE industries across Ontario move away from coal and develop the necessary supply chains so we can better utilize alternative low carbon fuels. The result for Ontarians will be lower GHG emissions, cleaner air, and a more competitive industrial sector.

We were also pleased to see that the Ontario government is doing its fair share by signaling how it will move forward with life cycle assessment and life cycle cost assessment to use the power of procurement to drive change while saving taxpayer dollars. Every year, Ontario spends almost $14 billion on infrastructure which can be used to reduce GHG emissions while helping Ontario build the next generation of public infrastructure.

We are equally buoyed by the government's commitment to develop service standards for permit approvals. This will help ensure that GHG-reducing innovations can be brought into use more quickly while still protecting the environment. Business requires certainty in order to make investments in Ontario and service standards will assist in this certainty.

Our members appreciate the collaborative approach that the Wynne government took in developing this plan. The comprehensive policy proposals that were consulted on over the past 18-24 months have ensured that everyone had a fair chance to make their case for how Ontario's cap and trade system should be designed. We recognize that this is the start of the Climate Plan in Ontario and we look forward to continued interactions with the various Ministries to ensure the competitiveness of our industry is continually addressed.

The changes outlined in the Climate Action Plan will help ensure our industry and others remain competitive in Ontario and in other markets in North America as we move toward a low-carbon future. 

Quick Facts

• In Ontario, 3 million tonnes of cement are produced every year for the concrete needed to to build, maintain and revitalize our public and private infrastructure.
• 98% of the fuel currently used for cement manufacturing in Ontario comes from coal and petcoke. As an industry, we are working to reduce our coal use by 20% by 2021. The average alternative energy substitution rate in Europe is 19.4% with rates in several Western European nations exceeding 30%.
• Increasing the use of alternative low carbon fuels can reduce GHG emissions from cement production by approximately 200,00-400,000 tonnes over the first compliance period and up to 400,000 tonnes per year each year post 2020.
• Environmental and public health authorities, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.K. Health Protection Agency, have concluded that the use of alternative and renewable energy in properly managed and maintained cement kilns poses no risks to human health or the environment, and research has demonstrated that it frequently improves environmental performance.

Quote

"Day after day we see the impacts of climate change on the news. Today, I'm happy with approaches that are laid out in the climate action plan which will help industries, like cement, reduce their GHG emissions while remaining globally competitive. We look forward to continuing to work with the Ontario government on the next steps to ensure that Ontario achieves its GHG reduction targets."
 Michael McSweeney, President and CEO, Cement Association of Canada

About the Cement Association of Canada
The Cement Association of Canada (CAC) is the voice of Canada's cement manufacturers. The industry provides a reliable, domestic supply of cement required to build Canada's communities and critical infrastructure. The CAC and its members are committed to the environmentally responsible manufacturing of cement and concrete products. CAC's members are:  Ciment Québec Inc., Colacem Canada, CRH Canada Group, Essroc Italcementi Group, Federal White Cement Ltd., Lafarge Canada Inc., Lehigh Hanson Canada and St Marys Cement – A Votorantim Cimentos Company. The cement and concrete industry's contribution to the Canadian economy is estimated to be $82 billion in direct and indirect impact and 170,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs.

SOURCE Cement Association of Canada

Lyse Teasdale, Director, Communications, Cement Association of Canada, [email protected], T: 613-236-9471; ext 211