Canadian Clean Tech solutions at Energy & Mines Australia Summit

In his speech to the Energy & Mines Australia Summit 2021, Consul General André François Giroux calls for Canadian partnership with Australian industry in the search for Clean Tech solutions to fight climate change.

I’m André François Giroux, Consul General of Canada in Sydney, Australia.

I’m pleased to speak to the Energy and Mines Australia Summit today from the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and pay my respects to their Elders – past, present and emerging.

People in Canada and around the world need people like you to innovate and to fight global warming together.

People have seen how governments reacted to the pandemic with stimulus and they now expect similar quick action on the climate threat.

Therefore, I encourage you to shape your Summit conversations around finding solutions to this great challenge of our time.

As we emerge from Covid-19, we must seize the many opportunities that are fuelling a ‘green recovery’.

It is really an exciting time to be within your industry: the challenges are real, so are the opportunities.   And Canada has ambitious commitments to help industries like yours transition.

Canada proudly punches above our weight in the Clean Tech sector and we want to partner with those that share our vision for innovation and the search for technological solutions.

Australia and Canada have world class mining industries, with shared technology, personnel and financing seamlessly taking place. We are natural partners.

Canadian professional Services companies, including consulting engineering firms, have a long history of working with the Australian mining industry.

Many of you would have visited, or worked, in each country and know the similarities first hand – be they geographic, cultural or industrial.

Canada’s efforts on climate change are guided by our plan for “A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy” .  This plan will help us meet and exceed current 2030 Green House Gas reduction targets under the Paris Agreement.

It builds on work under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, which includes 64 new and strengthened federal regulatory and programming measures, and $15 billion in climate action investments.

Moreover, the Canadian Federal Budget 2021 announced more investment towards a comprehensive green recovery. Our goal is to ensure Canada is the most competitive jurisdiction in the world for clean technology companies.

To that effect, a Clean Fuels Fund will support the production and distribution of low-carbon and zero-emission fuels, including hydrogen and biomass, across Canada, and around the world.

Canada is positioning itself to be a global hydrogen leader, through delivery of the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada.

This wouldn’t be possible without Canada’s Cleantech companies who champion innovation.

For example, we have global leaders in: heavy vehicle electrification, hydrogen and fuel cell; carbon capture, utilization and storage; lithium ion and vanadium flow batteries; and advanced compressed air energy storage.

Over the past four years, at least 11 Canadian companies have been named to the prestigious Global Cleantech 100 list and Canada ranked first in the G20 on the 2017 Global Clean Technology Innovation Index.

We invite you – Australian Cleantech companies, project developers and investors – to take advantage of Canada’s attractive environment.

We want YOU to be part of the Cleantech journey with us!

Please connect with my colleagues from the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service Kishani Navarathnam and John Williams who are at the Summit.   Ask for their help to connect with our Canadian cleantech leaders!

We look forward to continuing the conversation, at this event and beyond. Let’s grab this opportunity to find climate solutions together.

Thank you.  Bonne Conference!