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Florida discusses SDGs’ impact on real estate at ULI

2 years ago

How we design and build our cities is critical to achieving sustainable development goals, and developers must lead by example, Richard Florida told an audience at the Urban Land Institute’s 2021 environmental, social and governance symposium. 

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The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) and Enwave Energy Corporation have completed an agreement valued at $1.4 billion to advance district energy projects in Toronto and Mississauga. The CIB is allocating $600 million to the project.

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The Canadian financial industry appears to be moving from a problem to a solution for Canada’s climate transition. Canada’s banks, investment funds and asset managers has accepted it has a critical role in financing the net-zero transition.

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In the last few years, we’ve seen a tsunami-like surge in the number of investment products claiming to be “green,” dedicated to “responsible investing” or labelled as “ESG” investments (which prioritize ESG factors) in Canada and in financial markets globally.

Yardi Pulse

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Quebec says it plans to transition to electric vehicles for all government departments and ensure all its institutional buildings become zero-emission producers over the next 19 years as it looks to speed up its shift to green energy.

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Heavy-duty vehicles are one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonize. Especially challenging are heavy-haul trucks weighing 53,000–63,500 kg. These are the standard tractor-trailers and long combination vehicles that are some of the most energy demanding of all on-road vehicles.

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OPINION: Thirty years ago, oil and gas accounted for 17 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. The industry was emerging from a tough period — the low commodity prices of the 1980s. Then Canada transformed into a major global producer.

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British Columbia’s CleanBC program, which encourages a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across industry as a whole, has won an award at the UN’s COP26 climate conference. The program was awarded most creative climate solution by the Under2 Coalition.

Anchor Corporation

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The COP26 climate conference enters a crucial phase, as delegates must now focus on thrashing out details over how countries will work together to try to meet emissions-reduction commitments and set new ones in future.

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At COP26, as the weather rains, business reigns. The climate crisis is starting to hit companies where it counts. Financing the transition to zero carbon is becoming a massive business opportunity for banks and climate tech companies.

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While COP26 dominates the conversations of corporates worldwide, companies continue to address their approach to environmental responsibility, with more firms appointing Chief Sustainability Officers. We highlight eight of the latest CSO hires across North America.

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Energy management company Schneider Electric is collaborating with corporate responsibility and sustainability consultancy Carnstone to increase renewable energy access to 10 leading pharmaceutical suppliers. Participants in Energize include AstraZeneca, Biogen, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, MSD, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sanofi and Takeda.

Payquad

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A Canadian philanthropic organization that specializes in conservation abroad has made a US$100-million pledge to increase its global impact – a fourfold expansion over its previous efforts, which the organization says is needed to help counter a growing biodiversity crisis.

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With sea level rise accelerating, Liverpool, Nova Scotia’s local government hired engineering consultant CBCL Ltd. to explore options for protecting itself. But the municipality rejected all of CBCL’s suggestions, saying they’re simply not affordable.

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A conservation authority is updating flood hazard maps for parts of eastern Ontario, which will help municipal governments assess the risk of flooding when planning for the future. The South Nation Conservation is leading the efforts to update the maps.

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As the hydroelectric dam industry tries to reposition itself as a climate change solution, evidence shows climate change actually undermines the case for hydro dams. Gone are the days when hydropower was considered the predominant engine of the world economy.

Sustainable Biz Canada

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Frameworks are available for architects and engineers to use best practices that support their clients’ ambitious climate goals. However, general contractors — the ones responsible for managing building projects — do not have similar guides or policies available for them to consult.

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PODCAST: One of the answers to climate change may be right beneath our feet in the form of geothermal energy. Scientists and commercial real estate developers are tapping into the earth’s natural heat for cooling and warming properties.

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It can be difficult for Canadians to know how climate-friendly their consumer choices are. The complexity of global supply chains is one of the main reasons why it’s so difficult to understand the environmental impact of a finished product.

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Humanscale, a major manufacturer of ergonomic and green office furniture including sit/stand desks, is doing a big push into the residential market, because these days, that is where many office workers are.

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