Background

ETV Canada is strategically positioned to manage the preparation of credible environmental performance guidelines, screening methods and verification protocols for technologies, projects, and programs. ETV Canada is continuing to broaden its focus to address the needs of technology users and other stakeholders through the use of performance benchmarking, thus helping to legitimize the implementation of environmental performance improvements at multiple levels. Working towards inter-jurisdictional reciprocity through harmonization and cooperation is an important element of ETV Canada’s strategy.

Strategic Focus

ETV Canada’s longer term vision (3 years or more) being implemented consists of a three-part strategy:

(1) Stakeholder-driven Performance Benchmarking, focusing on the environmental performance requirements of technology users;

(2) Independent Environmental Performance Verification of innovative technologies; and

(3) Harmonization and Cooperation, focusing on facilitating the adoption and use of environmentally sound technologies in the global marketplace.

Operational Activities

ETV Canada’s strategic objectives are realized through specific activities and initiatives undertaken at the operational level primarily on a sectoral basis. Initiatives are highlighted below in accordance with the three areas which form the basis of ETV Canada’s three-part strategy

(1) Stakeholder-driven Performance Benchmarking

Key sectors where ETV Canada is currently active include:

a) Vehicle Fleet Technologies

b) Remediation of Contaminated Sites

c) Water and Wastewater

d) Energy

e) Green Buildings & Green Infrastructure

f) Green Procurement

g) Public Security and Emergency Preparedness

(2) Environmental Performance Verification of Innovative Technologies

a) Verifications - Six verification certificates were awarded at the 2nd International ETV Forum held in Vancouver, Canada on March 28th, 2006. Two verifications have been completed for the fiscal year 2006/2007 and there are five verifications currently underway as of July 2006.

b) Verification Entities (VEs) - The Centre national en électrochimie et en technologies environnementales inc (CNETE), has been added to the ETV Canada VE network. Both SAIC and MCEBR are in the process of becoming ETV Canada Verification Entities in the remediation area.

c) Environmental Technology Development Assessment Program - ETV Canada manages the Environmental Technology Development Assessment Program (ETDAP). ETV Canada has completed 25 ETDAP reports since the program started in April 2002. Of these, 5 companies have successfully completed the verification process.

d) GLOBE-Net – As an initiative of the GLOBE Foundation of Canada, GLOBE-Net provides a Canadian “window” on the global environment industry and allows potential buyers and sellers of environment-related goods, services and technologies to be better informed on what Canada has to offer. ETV Canada has been working with GLOBE-Net to showcase the ETV Canada verified companies on the GLOBE-Net web-based newsletter.

e) Updating the General Verification Protocol ( GVP) - The current version of the GVP is dated March 31, 2000. Therefore, ETV Canada and Environment Canada have discussed the prospects for updating the GVP over the next 6 months. This will assist ETV Canada in the utilization of the GVP as the basis for developing and "harmonizing" technology-specific protocols.

(3) Harmonization and Cooperation

ETV Canada is continuing to strengthen its working relationships and partnerships in key areas to promote global access to environmentally sound technologies. There are many opportunities for synergy, including performance verification of technologies of national and international importance, development of relevant performance benchmarks and verification protocols, and the establishment of mechanisms for fostering international cooperation and harmonization of performance verification and reporting. ETV Canada is working with organizations both in Canada and internationally to promote the adoption and use of environmentally-sound technologies in the global marketplace. More specifically, harmonization and cooperation:

• Provides a mechanism for inter-jurisdictional reciprocity
• Facilitates mutual recognition and accreditation of Verification Entities
• Enables the sharing of protocols and test methods
• Clarifies the manner in which performance information is reported

a) Harmonization within Canada - The Inter-Provincial Working Group (IPWG) - The last IPWG meeting took place five years ago at Americana 2001 in Montréal, Québec. A meeting was held in July 2006 to discuss options for provincial recognition of ETV verified technologies, which could help streamline permitting and approval processes on a provincial level, and ultimately, accelerate the deployment of credible technologies in addressing environmental priorities.

b) International Harmonization - The success of the 2nd International ETV Forum in Vancouver has positioned ETV Canada and Environment Canada to take a proactive role in promoting international harmonization of environmental performance verification. In support of this, specific initiatives are currently underway with the following organizations:

• UNEP
• European Union
• Regional Environmental Centre (REC)
• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
• Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR)
• Canadian Centre for International Studies and Cooperation/Canadian Cooperation Office-Nepal (CECI/CCO)
• The Korea Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (KIEST)
• Japanese Ministry of the Environment
• Asian Institute of Technology ( AIT).
• U.S. EPA Environmental Technology Verification Program
• World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organizations (WAITRO)
• Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)