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Environmental Technologies

Advancing Environmental Technologies in the West

What are Environmental Technologies?

Ron Iacobelli (left) of Azure Dynamics Corporation explains how the company’s hybrid electric drive train is being installed on a chassis for Canada Post at the B.C. Research Complex. Iacobelli made the presentation to then Secretary of State Stephen Owen (middle) and Erich Mohr, Chairman of BC Research Inc.

Simply put, environmental technologies reduce our impact on the environment. These include technologies that increase energy efficiency (conventional and alternative sources), make water and wastewater treatment more efficient, and those that aid in rehabilitating soil that has been built on in the past. They also include technologies that reduce air and noise pollution, improve our waste management practices, and make construction projects more sustainable.

What's the WD Connection?

Claudio Arato (left) and Gordon Gjennestad (middle) of Vancouver-based Lignol Innovations describe how their pilot plant refines wood-waste to form products such as Lignin (an adhesive), ethanol, and chemicals such as xylitol (a sweetener found in gum; also useful for diabetics). A distillation column used for concentrating ethanol bubbles in the background.

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) recognizes that the environmental technologies sector is and will continue to play a significant role in creating economic growth in Western Canada while helping to achieve Canada's climate change commitments. Because of this, WD is encouraging the development and adoption of environmental technologies in Canada and abroad. We're doing this by investing in research and development, and by facilitating meaningful discussions with industry leaders, research institutes, academics and representatives of all levels of government.

Through an ongoing dialogue process, WD is working with industry stakeholders and other levels of government to develop an action plan to take advantage of the many opportunities offered by this sector of the Canadian economy.

What's Been Accomplished?

In June 2003, WD began a consultation process across Western Canada with business, academic, not-for-profit, and government decision-makers on how to grow the environmental technologies sector. This process led to the Western Canadian Environmental Technology Forum, held in Vancouver on December 5, 2003, which brought together more than 120 of Western Canada's environmental technology leaders. Forum participants agreed on five ways to advance the sector; these and other results of the Forum are summarized in the Western Canadian Environmental Technology Forum Final Report. ( HTML | PDF )

Paul Martin also attended the Forum to underline the importance of environmental technologies in both economic and social development. Mr. Martin commented, "... a meeting like today, [with a] focus on really solving social problems through technology, the build-up of our technological industries, is what regional development is all about. And I think this is a tremendous initiative and let me congratulate you."

Mr. Martin challenged the industry to define the ideal industry-government partnership. He invited them to propose three concrete actions the government could take to support them in growing the environmental technology sector. WD facilitated a consultation process with industry leaders to flesh out and then prioritize actions the government could take to have the greatest impact. The top three recommendations identified by industry leaders were:

1. Provide meaningful support for demonstration projects;
2. Adopt regulatory regimes that encourage the development and deployment of innovative environmental technologies; and
3. Implement fiscal incentives to promote the early adoption of new environmental technologies.

A report expanding on the industry recommendations is available: Industry Report on the Western Canada Environmental Technology Sector (HTML | PDF)

In November 2004 WD released From Mind to Market: Case Studies of Successful Environmental Technology Companies in Western Canada. (HTML | PDF) These case studies profile four environmental technology companies from Western Canada that have taken a concept through commercialization to realize sustained revenue. The idea for these case studies came from the Environmental Technology Forum. At the session, industry leaders remarked several times that "real case studies of successful companies" would be an invaluable tool for new companies and the entrepreneurs that lead them.

What's on the Horizon?

WD continues to invest in technology commercialization and support partnerships among all parties involved in promoting environmental technologies. Looking ahead, there are several high-profile opportunities to continue promoting the sector and help grow the industry. Examples include the 2006 World Urban Forum in Vancouver and the 2010 Winter Olympics Games in Vancouver/Whistler, which will be the "greenest" Olympics to date.

MANITOBA

WD-Manitoba (MB) is actively involved in setting up a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System ® chapter in Manitoba. WD-MB is also a new Canadian Environmental Alliance-Manitoba organization. Led by environmental industry members, this organization will develop export markets for environmental products and services and grow the market for Manitoba companies.

SASKATCHEWAN

WD-Saskatchewan (SK) is working with the Saskatchewan Environmental Industry and Managers Association (SEIMA) to develop a workplan for growing the environmental technology sector in that province. WD-SK supports initiatives with an environmental technology component, like the "Communities of Tomorrow" project and the Petroleum Technology Research Institute in Regina.

ALBERTA

WD-Alberta (AB) supports hydrogen fuel cell development, industrial eco-efficiency, wastewater management, and technology commercialization by small firms, working through industry organizations. WD-AB supports Alberta firms to attend conferences that raise awareness about environmental technologies and accelerate the development and commercialization of new products.

Discussions are underway with the provincial government and other stakeholders to implement a range of initiatives, including research on the trends and research capabilities in Alberta's environmental technology industries, accelerated skills development, initiatives to support development of alternative fuels, a program to support increased R&D among small companies and a cluster development initiative to support existing and planned water and wastewater management investments.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

WD-British Columbia (BC) supports the sector through its innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable communities programs. In collaboration with industry and other partners, WD-BC also supports the sector to achieve its priorities through the Integrated Technology Custer Initiative (ITI). Led by the British Columbia Technology Industries Association (BCTIA), and co-funded by WD and Leading Edge BC, t he Integrated Technology Initiative was launched on June 23, 2004 to support highly competitive, functional technology clusters in B.C. Environmental technologies is one of six clusters that the initiative will focus on. The ITI will enable companies to collaborate on a lternative energy, green construction, sustainability planning, remediation, and water and wastewater. To become involved visit the Integrated Technology Initiative Web site at: www.techinit.ca.