The 2016 budget of Canada is resolutely focused on the environment

According to its most recent budget, Canada is claiming itself as officially ready to invest economically in order to preserve its future environment, with the aim of ensuring sustainable prosperity to its population. A first reading, without necessarily going in depth, reveals that the 2016 budget of Canada is resolutely focused on the environment. The document presents several good news in terms of investments and economic incentives for scientists and companies working in the field of clean technologies. Moreover, the budget outlines the importance of such sustainable investments, considering the truly interesting economic potential of the new global economy increasingly oriented towards the environment.

This green budget is in the wake of Canada’s latest public appearances that concerned environmental issues, such as the COP21 and the agreement with the United States. Once again, Canada reiterates its commitment to reduce its GHG emissions, contain global warming, improve air quality, and support the innovation of new clean technologies in order to bequeath a greener country to the future generations of Canadians, the fruit of a sustainable development. From the outset, the Canadian government announces that it will participate in Mission Innovation, a global movement by the public and private sectors focused on boosting drastically investments in renewable energy. Also, the government bets on the elaboration of a national framework along with provinces and territories to generate clean growth.

Following is a list of some of the relevant investments regarding the environment and clean energy:

• At least CAD 1 billion over five years, starting in 2017-2018, to support clean technologies in the sectors of forestry, fishing, mining, energy, and agriculture;
• CAD 82.5 million over two years, starting in 2016-2017, for Natural Resources Canada to support research, development and demonstration of innovative clean technologies and, therefore, promote their commercialization while reducing the environmental impact of energy production in addition to creating environmentally friendly jobs;
• CAD 62.5 million over two years, starting in 2016-2017, for Natural Resources Canada to support the development, in collaboration with provinces, territories, cities and the private sector, of the necessary infrastructures for alternative fuels, such as electric terminals for charging as well as natural gas and hydrogen refueling stations for the corresponding vehicles;
• CAD 128.8 million over five years, starting in 2016-2017, for Natural Resources Canada to implement policies and programs stimulating energy efficiency and promote clean renewable energy.

While these investments appear to be significant and generate much hope in terms of sustainable development and energy transition, it will not be possible to appreciate their real impact for a few years. What is certain on the other hand is that Canada is displaying a lot of ambition and true leadership in the path to sustainable development, that the country is fiercely oriented towards the future, and especially that it is ready to invest today so that future generations may have the chance to be literally able to reap. It is obvious that biogas finds itself in a favorable political environment, and that its industry would potentially benefit greatly from the investments promised by the Canadian budget in 2016.

By Simon Lefebvre | 2016-03-25

Source: 2016 Canadian Budget