I suggest there's a fifth strategy - increased utilization. In BC we have millions of cubic meters of fibre going up in smoke every year, contributing nothing to jobs or GDP but plenty to making climate change worse. In CleanBC the Government has committed to minimizing slash burning and increasing utilization. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/climate-change/action/cleanbc/cleanbc_roadmap_2030.pdf
Between the commitment and the reality are many technical, logistical, and economic challenges to solve. The bottom line is that the residuals that are currently burned have no (current) value or they would be removed and utilized. The value of the product must increase and exceed the cost of removal to make this a viable option. Which goes back to - prices will need to rise which could still push consumers to other non-biobased products. Let's not underestimate the challenges in front of us.
I'm curious: EO, you say "the value of the product must exceed the cost of removal." What sorts of policies (in general, not just in BC) would enable this?
One of the policies on page 56 of the CleanBC document is to require a minimum biomaterial content in products such as concrete, asphalt, or plastic. Could this increase biomaterial demand, and consequently price?
I suggest there's a fifth strategy - increased utilization. In BC we have millions of cubic meters of fibre going up in smoke every year, contributing nothing to jobs or GDP but plenty to making climate change worse. In CleanBC the Government has committed to minimizing slash burning and increasing utilization. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/climate-change/action/cleanbc/cleanbc_roadmap_2030.pdf
Between the commitment and the reality are many technical, logistical, and economic challenges to solve. The bottom line is that the residuals that are currently burned have no (current) value or they would be removed and utilized. The value of the product must increase and exceed the cost of removal to make this a viable option. Which goes back to - prices will need to rise which could still push consumers to other non-biobased products. Let's not underestimate the challenges in front of us.
Thanks CD and EO for your thoughtful comments.
I'm curious: EO, you say "the value of the product must exceed the cost of removal." What sorts of policies (in general, not just in BC) would enable this?
One of the policies on page 56 of the CleanBC document is to require a minimum biomaterial content in products such as concrete, asphalt, or plastic. Could this increase biomaterial demand, and consequently price?