Steel and cement are among the most used commodities in the global economy, and they are also among the most GHG intensive, representing 13% of global emissions. Combined, these two sectors represent 26 million MT of GHG emissions in Canada. Through research, convening and policy advocacy, we aim to influence public and private procurement for greener materials, change building codes to include embodied carbon, develop the technological solutions to decarbonize the industrial processes, and secure government commitments to a roadmap that reduces emissions and creates market incentives. TFF hopes to encourage Buy Clean on cement, procurement policy within federal and provincial governments, support tools to fund clean industrial processes like green hydrogen and electric arc furnaces, and more.

Canada has set a goal of cutting its emissions 40-45% by 2030 from 2005 levels and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Yet how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which makeup 99% of businesses in Canada, can be leveraged to reach this goal has been largely overlooked. To help address this gap, Green Economy Canada and the Pembina Institute launched “SME Net Zero Pathways: Manufacturing”, a pilot project with ten participants focused on identifying the barriers and support SME manufacturers need to transition to a net-zero future.