ST.
MARYS, ON, July 15, 2024 /CNW/ - Building fairness
for every generation means taking real action to address the
growing risk that climate change is having on the lives of
Canadians while building a stronger, more sustainable economy of
the future. Canada's industrial
pollution pricing system holds big polluters accountable to pay
their fair share, while it helps Canada attract new major projects that are
creating good‑paying jobs and build a clean economy.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of
Environment and Climate Change, announced the re-investment of up
to $2.2 million of recycled
industrial pollution pricing revenues to fund a major new emissions
reduction project at St. Marys Cement in St. Marys, Ontario.
With this funding, St. Marys Cement Inc. (Canada), which is part of the Votorantim
Cimentos group, is installing new speciality cement kiln
infrastructure that uses lower-carbon fuels, including discarded
plastics, to replace up to 30 percent of the high-carbon fuels
required for the manufacturing process. The innovative technology
will cut over 39,900 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in
2030, the equivalent of taking over 9,400 gas-powered cars off the
road for a year. As members of Canada's Net Zero Challenge, St. Marys Cement
is implementing their plan to transition their facilities and
operations to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
This is just one of many projects funded through the industrial
pricing system in Ontario and the
revenue-return program called the Decarbonization Incentive Program
(DIP), which re-invests revenues taken from heavy industry through
the price on pollution and puts it toward eligible facilities for
energy efficiency and emission-cutting projects. So far, the
industrial pollution pricing program DIP has agreements in place to
reinvest nearly $74.3 million into 18
emissions reduction projects in Ontario, resulting in 274 thousand tonnes of
greenhouse gas emissions reduced in 2030—with many more
projects to come. This return of proceeds is mobilizing
Canada's heavy industry emitters
to contribute funds toward these decarbonization projects,
resulting in a total investment of $337
million to further build Canada's clean economy and create jobs.
Putting a price on pollution will deliver a third of the
emissions reductions needed to achieve Canada's climate change goals—avoiding tens of
millions of tonnes of harmful carbon pollution. It fights pollution
at the lowest cost to the economy and creates new markets and
opportunities for clean technology and innovation in Canada.
Quotes
"Pollution pricing works. We are holding heavy industry
accountable for their pollution, re-investing those revenues into
projects that create good jobs and cut pollution. The re-investment
of up to $2.2 million of
industrial pollution pricing revenues to St. Marys Cement is
just one example of how we have a plan that is building a cleaner,
more sustainable future for all generations. This project not only
benefits the community of St.
Marys, Ontario, but helps build a more sustainable
future for many generations of Canadians to come."
– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of
Environment and Climate Change
"At Votorantim Cimentos, we are determined to be part of the
solution to reduce the planet's greenhouse gas emissions by
supporting the circular economy, as well as by investing in new
technologies and innovation and pursuing a renewable energy matrix.
St Marys Cement, part of the Votorantim Cimentos group, is
committed to ambitious science-based target initiative goals,
including net-zero concrete by 2050. In 2023, Votorantim Cimentos
reduced CO2 emissions by 15 percent, compared to 2010, achieving
556 kg of CO2 per tonne of cementitious material. With the help of
Environment and Climate Change Canada funding through the
Decarbonization Incentive Program for our Low-Carbon Alternative
Fuel project at the St Marys Cement plant, we will reduce our CO2
emissions further. We appreciate Minister Guilbeault's support and
look forward to continued collaboration with Canada's Ministry of Environment and Climate
Change to reach net-zero concrete."
– Jorge Wagner,
CEO, Votorantim Cimentos North America
Quick facts
- Canada's industrial pollution
pricing system, called the Output-Based Pricing System, imposes an
emissions performance standard for each heavy industrial sector, in
which companies whose emissions exceed the standard must pay, while
those who perform well earn credits to sell. This gives companies
an incentive to cut pollution and supports clean innovation.
- Canada's approach to carbon
pollution pricing lets provinces and territories put their own
industrial pricing systems in place, as long as they meet national
minimum stringency standards. Most provinces manage their own
industrial carbon pricing systems.
- Proceeds collected in jurisdictions where the federal
Output-Based Pricing system applies or applied, such as
Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, are being returned through the
Output-Based Pricing System Decarbonization Incentive Fund and the
Future Electricity Fund.
- As a result of the Output-Based Pricing System, approximately
$716.7 million from industrial
pollution pricing proceeds are being re-invested through the
Output-Based Pricing System programs, in approved projects that
will grow Canada's clean economy.
It is expected that amount will grow as more projects are approved
over the coming months.
- The Net-Zero Challenge encourages businesses to develop and
implement credible and effective plans to transition their
facilities and operations to net-zero emissions by 2050. Since
August 2022, over 200 businesses
across the country have joined the challenge.
Associated links
- Canada Cuts Carbon Pollution with Funding for Glencore Canada
Corporation Project
- Net-Zero Challenge
- Output-Based Pricing System
Environment and Climate Change Canada's X (Twitter) page
Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page
SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada