CBBP, Faculty of Forestry’s city building initiative:

  • The Trottier Energy Futures project recently produced a report modelling 11 scenarios of GHG emissions in Canada out to 2050.
    • The most aggressive deployment of existing technologies achieved 70% reduction of combustion related emissions by 2050
    • These scenarios fall short of our emissions reductions targets and the eventual net-negative emissions scenarios needed to achieve global climate change objectives.
  • The University of Toronto researchers are proposing an alternative emissions scenario they have titled “3C”, which includes new technological advances in CO2 reduction, sequestration and conversion to useful products and energy. The 3C approach has the capability to achieve much deeper emission reductions and to stimulate economic development in existing and new economic sectors.
  • The 3C Institute is based on the premise that in order win the “Climate Change War”, CO2 solutions are required in all sectors of the economy. The Institute will:
    • Bring together world class research and private sector innovators
    • Showcase Ontario-based innovation in CO2 solutions for transportation, buildings and industry, including agriculture and forestry
    • In particular provide an opportunity for key sectors of the Ontario economy, automotive, mining, cement, residential/commercial energy, to demonstrate leadership in sustainability 
    • Include a Life Cycle Analysis facility to track greenhouse gas emissions associated with all CO2
  • Some of the promising areas of research and demonstration brought together in the 3C (CO2 Utilization, Carbon Capture and Climate Change ) Institute include:
    • Demonstration of first Mass Timber Tall Wood Building in Toronto; reducing carbon footprint and contribute towards GTA’s carbon offset plan. A project has been initiated involving university of Toronto and external stakeholders including Ontario WoodWorks, Toronto Architecture firms, Provincial Ministry, City of Toronto, Builders and Construction companies;
    • High millage electrified vehicle carbon based light-weight battery for electrified vehicle.
    • Production of light-weight materials for auto-parts using bio-based carbon fibre (installation of first carbon fibre pilot plant in Ontario- Ford PERDC-CBBP facility) with an overall goal of 15% emission reduction in cities due to transportation related pollution;
    • Using solar energy for converting CO2 to fuels, that can be used for vehicles, home appliances, and heating
    • Electric powered compact and three-wheeler vehicle for higher energy efficiency.
    • Industrial sustainable packaging zero carbon revolution for industry and consumers.
    • Roll to Roll nano-cellulose film for energy carrier, high impact transparent composites for defense and automotive and solar cells.
    • Bio-organic light emitting devices (B-OLED) for nextgen residential and commercial sector lighting solution and energy savings.
    • Next-Gen Bio-carbon composite structure for building, construction renovation and retrofits.

Outreach:

CBBP’s goal is to reach out to public and government sectors by information sharing and networking. Two such recent activities by CBBP are :

  1. CO2 Utilization Workshop in November, opened by Hos. Minister Glenn Murray
  2. Lightweight and City friendly vehicle production workshop by Sponsored by Ford Canada and City of Toronto; ( December 2016)

 Teaching :

Faculty of Forestry is collaborating with Faculty of Arts and Science and Faculty of Engineering at University of Toronto and developed educational program such as Forest Conservation, Urban Forestry field courses, Forest Biomaterials Science, Community development and housing project for aboriginal people; renewable resource engineering and offering more than 18 courses in line with a plan for sustainable urban community and infrastructure development.

For further information please contact: Prof. M. Sain at m.sain@utoronto.ca or please visit Faculty of Forestry website.