Upload
others
View
3
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
RENEWABLE FUELSA SUCCESS FOR GOVERNMENTS
A SURVEY OF 1,750 CANADIANSJUNE 2015
CANADA’S LEADING VOICE FOR RENEWABLE FUELSFor over 30 years, the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) has been the national authority
for Canada’s domestic renewable fuels industry. CRFA membership includes biofuel producers, petroleum producers and distributors, fuel retailers, and farmers.
BACKGROUND• Since 2006, Canada’s biofuels industry has expanded significantly. Today, 26 renewable fuels plants are operating across the country, generating over $3.5 billion in gross economic benefits and thousands of jobs every year.
• Biofuels, like ethanol and biodiesel, make fuel cleaner and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by as much as 99% compared to fossil fuels. Biofuel mandates remain the best policy tool to make meaningful GHG reductions in the transportation sector.
• A recent nationwide poll explored feelings about Canada’s renewable fuels industry, support for biofuels policies, and whether Canadians want to see more government support for the sector.
• The survey was conducted online by Abacus Data Inc. with 1,750 Canadians aged 18 and over from April 6 to April 9, 2015. A random sample of panelists was invited to complete the survey from a large representative panel of Canadians, recruited and managed by Research Now, one of the world’s leading provider of online research sample.
KEY FINDINGS
4
55%
59%
33%
29%
Strongly agree Agree
Canadians have a strong affinity for renewable fuels and those who produce renewable fuels. Most (88%) Canadians believe that more renewable fuels should be produced in Canada and that
government should do more to promote renewable fuels.
Canadians feel pride in Canada’s biofuels industry
85% 88%
Canadians would like to see more renewable fuels production in Canada.
Think government should do more to promote renewable fuels.
SUPPORT FOR RENEWABLE FUEL PRODUCERS
Farmers
Renewable Fuel companies
Forest products companies
Mining companies
Pipeline companies
Oil/gas companies 15%
14%
7%
4%
3%
1%
33%
32%
31%
22%
12%
4%
40%
42%
51%
56%
57%
37%
12%
12%
11%
18%
28%
58% Canada (1750)
BC (376)
AB (141)
SK/MB (159)
ON (616)
QC (254)
Atlantic (204) 8%
12%
10%
8%
11%
7%
10%
33%
31%
31%
39%
37%
37%
33%
59%
57%
59%
53%
52%
56%
57%
Positive Neutral Negative
Canada’s renewable fuels sector is viewed very positively across industry sectors and across the country. With a large number of supporters and small number of opponents, there is little risk associated with supporting of biofuels. There is majority support for renewable fuel producers
across the country, and no real differences across demographic and regional subgroups.
SUPPORT FOR CANADA’S RENEWABLE FUELS POLICIES
The majority of those polled support biofuels mandates. 67% said they would support increasing the biodiesel
mandate compared to only 10% opposed .
23%
13%64%
5% Ethanol Mandate
22%
10%
68%
Increase to 5% Biodiesel
When told about the federal biofuels mandates many (31%) said their
impression of government action to deal with climate
change improved.
6%
31%
CANADIAN’S VIEWS ON CLIMATE CHANGE
The majority (79%) of Canadians believe climate change is happening and is caused
by human activity.
11%
10%
79%
Do you believe that climate change is happening?
Over half (61%) want government to do more to deal with climate change compared to only 6% who want government to do less. Views on climate change are fairly consistent across demographics and regions.
WANT MORE
ACTION
6%
61%
LESS
CONCLUSION• Supporting renewable fuels has many political upsides, and few downsides.
• Being seen with those who produce renewable fuels may have positive benefits since 85% of Canadians have a favourable impression of renewable fuel companies.
• Eight in ten Canadians believe that renewable fuels are innovative, sustainable, clean, and efficient products that they need which help create great jobs that are good for their province.
• Two in three Canadians (67%) support increasing the level of biodiesel from 2% to 5%. Only one in ten were opposed to the idea.
• When told about the federal biofuels mandates many Canadians (31%) said their impression of government action to deal with climate change improved.
• 61% of Canadians want government to do more to deal with climate change compared to only 6% who want government to do less.
• At least one in three Canadians would like all political parties to be more supportive of renewable fuels than they currently are.
$3.5 Billion ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Every year Canadian biofuels facilities generate billions in
economic activity.
14,000+ JOB CREATION
Canadian biofuels facilities have created thousands of quality jobs
—many in rural areas.
$3.7 Billion RETURN ON INVESTMENT Biofuels investments return billions back to government.
CRFA members are transforming fuels and where they come from. Today, 26 biofuels plants are operating across the country, developing
clean technologies, making new products, and expanding the renewable fuel supply.
Yukon
Whitehorse
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Victoria
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Yellowknife
Alberta
Edmonton
Saskatchewan
Regina
Manitoba
Winnipeg
Nunavut
Iqaluit
Ontario
Toronto
Ottawa
Quebec
St. John’s
Nova scotia
Halifax
Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown
New Brunswick
Fredericton
Ethanol 5% Mandate ~1.8B litres/year
Biodiesel 2% Mandate ~720M litres/year
APPENDIX:CANADA’S BIOFUELS INDUSTRY
• Canada’s transportation sector accounts for 1/3 of the country’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions —the single largest source.
• Biofuels make fuel cleaner and remain the best way to make meaningful reductions in GHG emissions.
• Renewable fuels are practical, reliable, and already removing 4.2 megatonnes of carbon from the environment every year.
APPENDIX:ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
COMPARED TO FOSSIL FUELS
1M
62%ETHANOL REDUCES GHGS BY
99%RENEWABLE DIESEL REDUCES GHGS BY
Reduction in hydrocarbon emissions
95%
Decrease in Carbon
Monoxide
50%
Fewer Smog forming
particulates
50%
USING BIOFUELS IS LIKE REMOVING 1MILLION CARS FROM OUR ROADS/YEAR
CANADIAN RENEWABLE FUELS ASSOCIATION 350 SPARKS STREET, SUITE 605 OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA K1R 7S8
greenfuels.org | evolutionandgrowth.ca
CONTACTANDREA KENT President [email protected] DEBORAH ELSON Vice President, Public Affairs & Membership [email protected]