Trajectories of innovation in wood construction: an actor-network analysis of building decarbonization practices in Canada

Following a trend in other Northern countries, since 2006 the Quebec Government in Canada has engaged in a program to reduce carbon emissions by promoting the adoption of innovation in wood construction. Despite today’s importance of building decarbonization, few studies have explored innovation drivers and barriers in wood construction and the impact of government initiatives. For many observers in Canada, the glass is still half empty, for others, half full. How is innovation in wood construction legitimized and achieved and with what consequences? Here, we combine principles of Actor-Network Theory and Socio-Technical Systems to analyze interactions between stakeholders involved in the development and adoption of laminated wood construction systems in Quebec. Results illustrate the complexity of innovation processes and networks at the intersection between public funding, a fragmented construction industry, a fragile real estate sector, and heterogeneous forestry and manufacturing practices. In a context where environmental narratives compete, justifications based on the need for climate action help “protect spaces” where innovation, jobs and profits can emerge. Actors are moved by the incentives offered by these spaces but must engage in a series of “translations” to seize opportunities and reduce risks. Success in construction industry decarbonization requires that government, think-tanks, and firms understand the complexity of innovation trajectories and the trade-offs they entail.