There is a concern that some countries may use environmental issues to act as barriers to trade. In addition, consumers are increasingly seeking assurances that the products they buy are not harmful to the environment. NRCan conducts leading-edge science to generate and transfer the ideas, knowledge and technologies Canada needs to use its resources wisely and efficiently, reduce costs, protect the environment and help Canadians create new products and services. NRCan undertakes science that provides knowledge about our resources and their potential, and increases our understanding of the natural environment and how it is affected by resource development and other human activities. Research can also lead to new technologies that allow us to use our resources more wisely, for example extending the lives of resources through their efficient use and recycling or by replacing them with alternatives.
New technologies can reduce impacts on the environment, while lowering costs.
This makes Canadian companies more competitive and helps create jobs for Canadians involved in providing new products and services. Research and development is key to marketing and commercializing products and services with environmental advantages. NRCan builds a national knowledge infrastructure on Canada's land and resources, providing Canadians with easy access to the latest economic, environmental and scientific information from a variety of sources. Resource managers need to be able to consolidate that knowledge to make the right sustainable development decisions. All Canadians need access to this information to make appropriate judgments about their health and safety, the environment and economic opportunities.