Enerkem recognized for biomass-to-aviation fuel process

BIZ  Energy, Waste  •  Clean Energy, Technology  •  Quebec, International

Enerkem Inc.‘s development of a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from forest biomass has received a $5-million shot in the arm from a Canadian competition created to speed up the development of these highly-specialized fuels.

Bullfrog, biz leaders partner on PPAs in net-zero push

BIZ  Energy  •  Clean Energy, Technology  •  National, Toronto / GTA, Alberta

Green energy retailer Bullfrog Power Inc. sees power purchase agreements (PPAs) as a growing piece of the net-zero puzzle, and its involvement in the sector is drawing attention from some of Canada’s largest and most influential businesses.

N.L. lifting moratorium on wind development

Real Estate  •  VOCM  •  CBC  •  Globe and Mail

The provincial government has lifted the moratorium on wind development in Newfoundland and Labrador. Energy Minister Andrew Parsons said by lifting the moratorium, opportunities will be created for industrial customers to generate wind energy for their own consumption and export.

Building a Cleaner Canada › A realistic path to sustainability for Canada’s construction industry

Sarah Bingham: Director of Development and Sustainability, Adera

Builders think twice about using mass timber

Real Estate  •  Western Investor

Construction using mass timber remains a viable option for addressing the labour and productivity challenges builders face, but unpredictable costs have made it a tough proposition in the current environment.

Record-level investments needed for electricity grid

Carbon, Energy  •  CTV News  •  SustainableBiz.ca

A price tag in the hundreds of billions of dollars and a project scope akin to that of the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1800s — that’s what will be required for Canada’s electricity grid, experts say.

Tax credit can boost carbon capture’s role

Carbon, Energy  •  Globe and Mail

The federal Liberal government recently announced its intention to create an investment tax credit for carbon-capture projects. Now critics believe that Ottawa’s new tax credit will cover at least half of project construction costs to be remotely feasible.

ISSB opening office in Montreal to end greenwashing

Real Estate  •  Les Affaires

With its new environmental financial disclosure standards, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), which will soon open its offices in Montreal, hopes to sound the death knell for greenwashing.

Vinfast aims to shake up the Canadian EV market

Carbon, Energy  •  Driving.ca

Vietnam-based electric vehicle (EV) maker Vinfast is making a splash among Canadian buyers by offering perks like a portable charger. Plus, the real winner — an all-inclusive weeklong stay for four at a five-star Vietnamese resort for early birds.

McDonald’s Canada welcomes first EV to delivery fleet

Carbon, Transportation  •  Newswire

McDonald’s Canada has announced the first-ever electric vehicle (EV) to its distribution network — a new VNR electric Class 8 tractor from Volvo. With its supply chain distribution partner, Martin Brower, the EV will service restaurants in the Montréal area.

Anheuser-Busch making an impact with EV truck fleet

Carbon, Energy  •  GreenBiz

Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, is doubling down on climate-friendly transportation systems by collaborating with its clean-energy partners and prioritizing sustainable logistics. Its electrified fleet of 800 trucks has proven to be a game-changer.

EV growth cutting emissions from transportation

Carbon, Transportation  •  Corporate Knights

More electric vehicles are on the road, people are taking advantage of sharing mobility services such as Uber and Lyft, and the rise in telework during the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the way people think about commuting.

Scotiabank shareholders raise ESG concerns at AGM

Carbon, Energy  •  Investment Executive

Scotiabank faced criticism for not moving fast enough on climate change at the bank’s annual general meeting. In contrast, prepared remarks for chief executive Brian Porter, who missed the meeting due to Covid-19, focused on the economic challenges faced by Canadians.

Swarovski completes CO2 removal deal with Climeworks

Carbon, Real Estate  •  GreenBiz

Swarovski has signed a five-year carbon dioxide removal agreement with Climeworks — the latest firm to support DAC technologies. The deal could help the company cut Scope 3 value chain emissions by 28 per cent by 2030.

Has renewable energy reached an inflection point?

Carbon, Energy  •  GreenBiz

Wind and solar power hit a new record in 2021, generating 10 per cent of the world’s entire electricity needs for the first time, but overall emissions still continued to grow, according to a new analysis from think tank Ember.

Greenpeace speaks out against Suncor decision

Carbon, Energy  •  Global News

Greenpeace Canada chief energy strategist Keith Stewart is criticizing Suncor’s decision to ditch wind and solar for hydrogen and biofuels, highlighting that oil and gas companies like them because they don’t require as much change to their business models.

Norway pushes for net-zero carbon CRE in Europe

Real Estate  •  Bisnow

The government of Norway has proposed that the country’s sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, should push the more than 9,300 companies it invests in to cut their GHG emissions to net zero by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement.

Republicans blocking natural gas bans in U.S.

Carbon, Energy  •  Corporate Knights

While more than 50 cities have banned natural gas infrastructure in new buildings, at least 20 states have barred such prohibitions. However, Republican-controlled legislatures have sought to pre-emptively stymie similar efforts in their states over the last year.

U.S. banks balk at capital rules for climate risk

Finance, ESG  •  Climate & Capital Media  •  GreenBiz

While most American financial firms seem to be on board with making major moves in response to climate change, some bank lobbyists are pushing back on proposed guidance from the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. Still, progress is being made.

Five takeaways from the UN’s latest climate report

Carbon, Energy  •  Bloomberg

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released its latest 3,000-page look at how humanity can avoid compounding catastrophe if nations take sufficient action to do so. Here are five key takeaways from the climate report.