The forest industry is directly and indirectly responsible for significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from harvesting activities, manufacturing, transportation and product disposal. At the same time forests, soils, biomass and forest products all have the potential to store carbon for varying degrees of time.  Activities aimed at reducing emissions, increasing carbon storage and reducing reliance on fossil fuels can positively influence the amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and WWF-Canada both believe that providing leadership in sustainability and environmental performance will realize some of the greatest opportunities for the future of the forest industry.  With this in mind, FPAC and WWF-Canada have committed to use their collective resources and influence to affect positive change.

With the support of WWF-Canada, FPAC has committed to the goal of industry-wide carbon-neutrality by 2015 without the purchase of carbon-offset credits – a world first.  FPAC and WWF-Canada have also agreed to use this partnership to leverage broader uptake within the forest industry, across the forest product value chain and in other sectors.

WWF-Canada and FPAC will use the best available information to inform the analysis and planning, and accounting protocols will be guided by the best relevant methods.  External advisors have been identified who will help in this regard.  Activities carried out in support of this initiative are not intended to presume the outcome of other related initiatives pertaining to climate change, including governmental measures and/or the development of protocols for project-specific tradable offsets.

Actions

1. FPAC and WWF-Canada will jointly develop an implementation strategy to achieve carbon neutrality, including targets, monitoring, evaluation and periodic public reporting on progress.
2. FPAC and WWF-Canada will jointly develop descriptions of potential measures for GHG mitigation and explore their applicability.
3. FPAC and WWF-Canada will encourage, support and advance the development and implementation of GHG mitigation measures within the forest industry and along the Canadian forest products value chain.
4. FPAC and WWF-Canada will work together to ensure the implementation of practices that conserve biodiversity in carrying out activities in support of this agreement.
5. FPAC and WWF-Canada will work together to communicate progress achieved and the forest industry’s leadership on climate, in a manner that encourages similar commitments and actions in other industries, other sectors and other value chains, in Canada and Internationally.
6. FPAC and WWF-Canada will advocate for and advance policy and fiscal measures to encourage broader implementation of measures to mitigate climate change.

The Intended Impacts Are:

1. measurable improvements in GHG performance across the forestry industry in Canada;
2. greater accountability for GHG impacts across the forest products value chain; and
3. increased support for implementation of voluntary sector-wide GHG commitments in other sectors and/or countries