Embracing allies in climate change: chemistry’s role in a low carbon economy

When faced with the question, “What will be the defining challenge of our time?," without a doubt, climate change will be at the top of the list. Government, industry, and private citizens alike must deal with this challenge but how do we do so while taking care of our communities and growing our economy? There are a lot of options out there ranging from carbon pricing to electric vehicles to solar and wind power. One key industry that is often overlooked is a vital contributor to the low-carbon economy. That’s the chemistry industry. Chemistry touches more than 95 per cent of all manufactured goods on the planet, including clothing, building and construction, and food production. Chemistry is also the essential driver of innovation for society’s most pressing needs to ensure clean air, clean water, clean energy and safe, nutritious and abundant food. For instance, chemistry enables manufacturers to produce wind turbine blades that are larger, lighter, stronger, and more cost-effective. In fact, the average wind turbine requires more than seven tonnes of chemical resins during its manufacture. Similarly, silicon-based chemistries are the basis for solar power and have enabled a 30 per cent improvement in output over the last 10 years. Chemistry is also making essential low carbon contributions in transportation. Today, more than 50 per cent of the volume of new cars use light-weight, high-strength plastics to replace heavier metals. The industry is also investing significantly in solutions for energy storage essential to the electrification of vehicle fleets. And new rubber chemistries have resulted in “green” tires that reduce rolling resistance, thereby reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that, in aggregate, the use of innovative chemistry products results in the reduction and avoidance of 2.6 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions for every tonne associated with production, use and end of life management of those products. Chemistry companies recognize that despite these contributions, there remains a responsibility to be effective environmental stewards and to drive down emissions associated with the manufacture of chemical products. Since 1992, as part of their commitment to Responsible Care, the industry’s U.N.-recognized sustainability initiative, CIAC members have reduced their absolute GHG emissions by 68 per cent by re-engineering their processes and products. For example, over the last five years in the Sarnia area alone, nearly $1-billion has been spent to convert the chemistry industry from heavier, crude-based feedstocks to lighter natural gas-based feedstocks. This move cuts the GHG footprint for Sarnia-produced chemical products in half. Additionally, Sarnia is now home to the world’s first, commercial-scale bio-based succinic acid production facility. This platform chemical can be used in many of the products consumers use today including plastics, paints, textiles, food additives and personal care products. Additional bio-based chemistry investments are also being considered for this area to take advantage of the healthy infrastructure and industrial synergies which exist within the traditional chemistry industry. Canada is recognized as having abundant, low carbon resources which can play an important role as chemical feedstocks and can provide the innovative products and technical solutions the world needs to meet its carbon challenge. This, combined with our reputation as a stable society and a responsible producer has Canada’s chemistry industry poised for growth in the coming years. The opportunities are significant and have captured the attention of governments across the country. While we have many of the key ingredients in Canada to ensure success, we must be mindful of the global competition for investment dollars. Collaboration across governments and between government and industry, with the engagement of local communities, will be essential to realize the fullest potential offered by Canada’s energy resources. Bob Masterson is the president and CEO of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada. The Hill Times