CFT’s ‘smart forests’ providing economic benefits

BIZ  ESG, Social  •  Investment, Technology  •  National

To combat the problem and include neglected Indigenous groups, Canada’s Forest Trust (CFT) is leveraging technologies, analytics and understanding from Indigenous Knowledge Keepers to create thousands of sustainable and biodiverse “smart forests” in Canada.

Corporate tree-planting initiatives falling short

Carbon, Energy  •  GreenBiz

The science behind tree planting and its benefits is putting some corporate tree-planting programs out on a limb. Countless companies have embraced reforestation but have failed to do it correctly, yielding low results while reaping the corporate benefits.

Canada to issue first green bonds this week

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail  •  Financial Post

Canada will issue its first green bonds this week, a move that will give the federal government a new tool to finance its low-carbon transition plans and help establish a benchmark for other sustainability-linked financial assets.

Kathairos get funding for methane reduction project

BIZ  Energy  •  Clean Energy, Technology  •  Calgary, Alberta

Cleantech startup Kathairos Solutions Inc. has received $1.58 million from the Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN) to fund its Simple Methane Elimination Using Nitrogen project.

Brookfield’s One Manhattan West Tower to go green

Real Estate  •  Bisnow  •  RENX

Canadians flocking to EVs as gas prices rise: KPMG

Carbon, Energy  •  Toronto Star

The rising cost of gas could push Canadians to EVs sooner than expected. Sixty-one per cent of Canadians say rising gas prices and oil supply challenges have convinced them that it is time to buy an EV, according to a recent KPMG survey.

Soaring gas prices pushing Canadians to consider EVs

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail  •  Globe and Mail

Sky-high gas prices are pushing electric vehicles (EVs) further into the spotlight as of late as more drivers think seriously about going electric. Now, the industry is calling for a return of EV incentives that could get more Canadians to buy.

Car restrictions in cities could cut oil demand: IEA

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

Lower speed limits, occasional restrictions on car access to city centres and cheaper or free public transportation would quickly cut millions of barrels of daily oil demand. This, according to an IEA report, calls for moves to cut oil demand.

Tofino, B.C.’s plastic ban encouraging others

Real Estate  •  Victoria Times Colonist

The District of Tofino has become the first municipality in the ­province to ban all single-use plastic utensils, amending a bylaw recently that outlaws plastic bags, straws and containers. Now, other B.C. areas towns are expected to follow suit soon.

Critics slam Ontario’s Blue Box recycling program

Real Estate  •  Toronto Star

The Ford government is planning to overhaul the Blue Box recycling program, and critics of the move say his government’s handling of the initiative has been a disaster. Industry analysts are worried that the confusion could have serious consequences.

Could Ontario’s Ring of Fire help build green energy?

Real Estate  •  CBC

Northern Ontario has rich mineral deposits that can help meet the growing demand for EV batteries — but mining the minerals risks destroying one of the planet’s largest carbon stores. Now, environmentalists and Indigenous groups are weighing the pros and cons.

Ontario’s plan to sell ‘clean energy’ credits falls short

Real Estate  •  CBC

Premier Doug Ford’s government is working on a plan to sell “clean energy credits” to companies wanting to lower their carbon footprint. Still, environmental groups say the move would do nothing to reduce Ontario’s carbon dioxide emissions.

Canada rethinking how it deals with flooding

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

EDITORIAL: Last week, Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair announced that Ottawa would eventually create a national public-private insurance program for overland flooding. Supporters say the move could mark a critical shift away from a flood-management philosophy, which is antiquated.

Dike upgrades to protect N.S.-N.B. land link underway

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

An engineering study says a decade-long project to save the land link between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick from climate-related flooding will cost up to $300 million. The analysis, from Consultants Wood Canada Ltd., tabled three options for dike construction.

Porsche to develop network of EV charging stations

Real Estate  •  TechCrunch

Porsche has announced it will build out its own proprietary global charging station network next year, departing from its initial strategy to partner with other companies. It follows an announcement for two new EVs from the automaker by 2025.

Volkswagen’s EV operations flourishing due to demand

Real Estate  •  CleanTechnica

Working for several years on an aggressive plan to transition to electric cars, Volkswagen now sits second behind Tesla in the U.S., with approximately a 7.5 per cent share last year.

Public Policy Forum report calls for oil and gas cap

Carbon, Energy  •  Corporate Knights  •  Globe and Mail

The Public Policy Forum has tabled a blueprint for Canada’s net-zero transition. Urging the federal government to reduce emissions, its new report argues for a cap against oil and gas production while driving investment into emission reductions and clean technologies.

ESG funds picked Russian energy stocks over Canadian

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

The popularity of ESG funds is slowing and money flowing into ESG funds, after accounting for outflows, has been slowing substantially, even before the war in Ukraine. As ESG funds flee from energy stocks, stakeholders wonder what the future holds.

Paris Agreement on life support: UN secretary-general

Carbon, ESG  •  AP News

The Paris Agreement‘s commitment to limit global warming to 1.5C is on ‘life support,’ the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned. First discussed in November 2021, the reiterated comments come as climate scientists mull international mitigation options.

India sit last on emissions targets — for good reason

Carbon, Energy  •  Bloomberg

If all goes according to plan, India will be dead last among the world’s biggest economies to zero out greenhouse gas emissions. India’s target date to reach net-zero is 2070 due to extreme weather conditions, declining agricultural productivity, poverty, etc.