Why our Northern Forests are under attack.
BOREAL FORESTS DOWN THE TOILET: Cutting Canada’s Vanishing Forests for American Tissue Paper – Trump Canada News
“Boreal Forests Down the Toilet!” New report documents the climate consequences of clearcutting Canada’s vanishing forests for American toilet paper and paper towels.
Here’s the hard truth. Here’s what the numbers say when you crunch ’em.
There’s a new report out from the NGO Center for Sustainable Economy (CSE). A shocking study about “clearcutting over 32,000 acres of boreal forests in the Province of Ontario to produce pulp for toilet paper. Toilet paper that’s made in the US generates over 3.8 million tons of carbon pollution each year. Each year! This is equivalent to what is emitted by over 824,000 gas-powered passenger vehicles. Or several small coal-fired factories.”
The report also quantifies the economic damages associated with this pollution. “Over $560 million each year, or $1,715 for every ton of pulp exported to the US. The export price of pulp from Ontario is currently hovering around this same level.” Meaning any financial benefits from export are entirely canceled by the economic harm created.
“It’s hard to imagine a more wasteful use of carbon-rich forests. In a rational economic system, this should not be happening,” said Dr. John Talberth, President and Senior Economist for CSE.
“The problem is that neither the US or even Canada are putting a price on the Climate.”
“And on environmental damages associated with boreal forest clearcutting. Or factoring that price into trade and environmental policies. Our report helps lay the groundwork for doing so.”
When Donald Trump burned his copy of the Paris Agreement, he took his country back a hundred and fifty years. BTR. Before Teddy Roosevelt. “I’m immediately withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord. The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity!”
Early in his second term came “Trump Administration to End Protections for 58 Million Acres of National Forests.”
“President Trump is removing obstacles to the appropriation of our natural resources by rescinding the restrictive Roadless Rule,” announced one of his secretaries.
“This move opens a new era for our nation’s forests. It is clear that properly exploiting our forests preserves them from devastating fires. And allows future generations of Americans to enjoy and reap the benefits of this great land.”
For more on the National Forests and reckless logging, see this…
President Teddy Roosevelt was warning Americans about “Climate Change” and “Deforestation” way back in 1908. In his prophetic “Eighth Annual Message to the Senate and House of Representatives” — See Teddy Roosevelt Called it Climate Change in 1908!
Not that our Canadian government is doing much better.
We’ve never had a Canadian equivalent of President Teddy Roosevelt, who created all those beautiful National Parks. Or President Richard Nixon, who established the world-saving Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), bless him.
When Donald Trump announced so obtrusively that Canada was going to be his 51st state to plunder at will, we made it clear that Canadians are just as patriotic as our American friends and allies. In turn, Donald replied “Canadians are mean and nasty!”
So we voted for Mark Carney.
Mark Carney was born in Fort Smith, Canadian Northwest Territories. He studied at Harvard University with a partial scholarship and financial aid. During his Harvard years, he was backup goalie for the varsity ice hockey team. After graduating Oxford, he began a three-decade career as a noted economist. And then Mark entered the political arena.
The only man to serve as Governor of the Bank of Canada and Governor of the Bank of England. Both in treacherous times. We figured that the best man to lead us in a Trade War was a Trade Warrior.
Of course, Mark Carney is a banker. And bankers are notoriously conservative by nature. Remember Milburn Drysdale, President of the Commerce Bank of Beverly Hills? Yup — Mark is our Milburn.
Although speaking in generalities, Prime Minister Carney did say, “My plan to protect our Nature and waters will draw on the wisdom of Indigenous traditions, the power of modern technology, and the strength of a united Canada.” Sounds promising, eh?
And the CSE Report also said, “Canada’s forests are facing catastrophic levels of human and climate-related deforestation and are now a source instead of a sink for carbon emissions.”
The Report argues that “trade and environmental policies need fast-tracked reforms to end subsidies and otherwise stop the use of carbon-rich boreal forests…
“Stopping forest-use for toilet paper and accelerating growth in manufacturing of non-wood alternatives from hemp, bamboo, kenaf, and agricultural wastes. Which are mostly provided by US farmers in the US. And Canadian farmers in Canada.”
The EPN joins the fray.
Environmental Paper Network (EPN), which leads a 350-member international coalition, has been working for decades to help such producers capture a greater share of the market. The market is now dominated by timber corporations that have convinced legislators on both sides of the aisle (and both sides of the Border) to subsidize their products over non–wood alternatives.
“Industrial logging activities, whether for mass timber products or paper, receive generous government subsidies in the form of much lower taxes. As well as exemptions from tariffs, limits on liability, taxpayer funds for mills and infrastructure, and access to below-cost wood from Public Lands.” – EPN
IN CONCLUSION: The CSE Report’s analysis shows the unaccounted-for greenhouse gas emissions associated with the Dryden mill’s current operations in Ontario likely outweigh its economic benefits.
According to Dr. Elizabeth Underwood, EPN’s North American Director, “Clearcutting about 13,000 hectares a year of the Canadian Boreal Forest for pulp production at the Dryden mill has enormous environmental implications. Calculations from this report are on par with EPN’s Paper Calculator™ tool, which uses a science-based methodology to estimate various metrics, including GHG emissions…
“Moreover, this disastrous environmental devastation by the logging industry is currently subsidized at a time when there are better alternatives. Marketplace sustainability leaders are offering products made from environmentally preferable alternative fibers. Such as hemp, bamboo, kenaf, and recycled content. Most provided by our own farmers!”
This report brings to light both problems and solutions at a time when US and Canadian governments — and citizen consumers — are scrutinizing subsidies and tariffs. Hopefully leaders on both sides will use the scientific data to reform economic policies to align with environmental and ethical protections.”
SEE my most controversial Canadian Culture post: CANUCK MOVIES: Mounties, Nell Shipman, Canadian Spirit & Tariffs — A Patriot’s Rant
BOREAL FORESTS DOWN THE TOILET: Cutting Down Canada’s Vanishing Forests for American Toilet Paper – Trump Canada News
SOURCE: Center for Sustainable Economy, Environmental Paper Network & Civilized Bears
TAGS: Boreal Forests, Mark Carney News, Trump Canada News, Trump news today, Trump tariffs Canada, vanishing forests. What has Mark Carney done so far?
