In accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals (2010), a detailed strategic environmental assessment (SEA) was completed for the contribution to the Consortium for Aerospace Research and Innovation in Canada (CARIC) announced on August 8, 2014 by the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Industry. The SEA determined that the contribution will likely have important positive direct and indirect environmental benefits over time which will serve to advance the goals and targets of the 2013‐2016 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS).
The net environmental impact of the contribution is expected to be positive over the longer term. The contribution to CARIC will help aerospace companies enhance their competitiveness, which is increasingly tied to advancing environmental standards as companies aim to develop new technologies that make aircraft more fuel efficient and therefore profitable. The technologies developed through CARIC supported projects may lay the foundation for future technologies having an environmental benefit.
For example, as aircraft are made more fuel efficient, the resulting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollution would be reduced thus advancing FSDS Goals 1 (address climate change) and 2 (reduce air pollution). An increase in the fuel efficiency of aircraft resulting from the use of more light‐weight technologies, may also reduce the use of natural resources and waste which would advance the FSDS goal 5 (support sustainable use of biological resources). Additionally, as aircraft are designed to use fewer environmentally harmful substances, there would be less toxic dispersion into the air, the water and nature, thus advancing FSDS goals 2 (reduce air pollution), 3 (protect water) and 4 (protect nature).
The contribution to CARIC will help advance the environmental sustainability goals and targets of the 2013‐2016 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. The contribution also aligns with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's sustainable development strategy which encourages innovation and competitiveness of businesses through recognition of the benefits of sustainable development and adoption of sustainable technologies.