General Fusion hits key milestone at prototype facility

BIZ  Energy  •  Metro Vancouver, International

General Fusion has passed a critical milestone in developing a prototype system for its Fusion Development Plant. The firm’s plasma compression prototype is being used to demonstrate its latest magnetized target fusion technology.

Atlantic premiers discuss $5 billion clean energy loop

Real Estate  •  Toronto Star

The proposed Atlantic Loop clean energy project is an estimated $5 billion proposal that would connect the four Atlantic provinces to hydroelectricity from Quebec and Labrador that was discussed by the region’s four premiers in the absence of a federal commitment.

Letter to editor: More to carbon pricing story

Carbon  •  Corporate Knights  •  Corporate Knights

Steven Guilbeault, the Canadian minister of environment and climate change wrote this letter in response to Corporate Knights story  Canada’s biggest emitters are paying the lowest carbon tax rate. For too long, Canada delayed pollution pricing across the economy.

Canada needs clarity around carbon capture policy

Energy  •  Financial Post

The Canadian energy industry needs policy clarity, not just government funding, to see investments flow into the country’s carbon capture, utilization and storage technology, says a senior industry executive according to Andy Mah, former CEO of Advantage Energy Ltd.

Three CRE CEOs committed to ESG

Real Estate  •  Forbes

The CRE industry has had a heightened focus on ESG initiatives over the last few decades with Sonny Kalsi, BentallGreenOak’s co-CEO, Sara Armbruster, Steelcase CEO and Joe Derhake the CEO of Partner Engineering and Science leading the charge.

Hines’ carbon officer builds on ESG trends in RE

Real Estate  •  propmodo

Hines, one of the world’s leading property developers, created a role to assess the global carbon emissions of the firm. Micheal Izzo, formerly vice president of construction in the firm’s U.S. East region, was appointed vice president of carbon strategy.

Naturally Sustainable Buildings › Leveraging innate connection between people and nature

Phil Fung: Professional Engineer, Designated Consulting Engineer

New Ohio chip plant to use sustainable practices

Real Estate  •  Environmental Leader

Intel is to build a $20 billion chip factory in Ohio that will use green building principles and renewable electricity. It has a 926-acre site and aims to achieve net positive water use and send zero total waste to landfills.

SNC-Lavalin launches initiative to decarbonize buildings

Real Estate  •  Daily Commercial News

SNC-Lavalin has launched Decarbonomics, a data-driven initiative they hope will help decarbonize the built environment in a cost-effective way and accelerate net-zero construction by applying methods and practices to deliver high-performing buildings and developments.

Giatec Scientific turns heads at concrete industry event

Real Estate  •  Ottawa Business Journal

Ottawa-based Giatec Scientific specializes in developing wireless sensors that measure the quality and consistency of concrete during the construction process and in existing buildings. It is used in 80 countries and drew attention at the recent World of Concrete event.

IAQ combos arresting spread of COVID

Real Estate  •  REMI Network

Building managers use combination of air exchange, filtration and purification to meet industry-leading guidance for arresting airborne spread of pathogens and contaminants. Since MERV 13 performance is the baseline requirement, a MERV 13 filter is often the most straightforward and cost-effective measure.

Metro unveils 2022-2026 Corporate Responsibility Plan

ESG  •  Canada Newswire

Metro unveiled its 2022–2026 Corporate Responsibility (CR) Plan for its food and pharmacy activities. This third plan builds on METRO’s CR approach initiated more than 10 years ago and reflects the business environment that has significantly evolved in recent years.

Women’s leadership role boosts company sustainability

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

Women in leadership may contribute to a boost in a company’s sustainability efforts. An article in the Journal of Corporate Finance citing multiple studies found that women directors are more likely to advocate for the use of renewables and diversity.

Competition Bureau warns of surge in greenwashing

Real Estate  •  REMI Network  •  Competition Bureau news release

The Competition Bureau of Canada is warning Canadians to remain skeptical of products and services that wrongly claim to be “green.” As more people look to reduce their environmental impact, this demand is leading to more companies making false promises.

Ways corporations close the sustainabililty ‘say–do’ gap

ESG  •  Corporate Knights

In order to be on track to deliver on their most recent climate pledges, G7 and BRICS countries needed to reduce their carbon emissions by 822 million tonnes in 2019. Instead, reported emissions from these nations increased by 256 million tonnes.

5 trends to watch in climate-aligned finance in 2022

Finance  •  GreenBiz

When RMI launched the Center for Climate-Aligned Finance in 2020, the concept of climate-aligned finance was in its infancy. In 2021, it matured rapidly as net-zero pledges became the new norm in the financial sector, particularly in the West.

New ESG reporting requirements for banks in EU

ESG  •  Bloomberg

The European Banking Authority has unveiled a new set of mandatory templates, tables and instructions that banks will have to follow, after a review of ESG reports found “shortcomings” and to improve communication to investors.

EU report considers 20 per cent hydrogen gas blend

Energy  •  H2 View

The European Commission has released a new technical report that explores the feasibility of blending hydrogen into the European gas grid as a way to decarbonize the continent and drive hydrogen usage further into Europe’s industrial process and residential areas.

Europe’s coal giants lag in effort to reach net-zero

Real Estate  •  Bloomberg  •  Bloomberg

Europe’s coal utilities aren’t on track to reach their emissions-reductions goals in time to achieve 2050 net-zero status, according to a new study by Europe Beyond Coal and Ember, a think tank that advocates for the transition away from coal.

Scientists urge PR firms to dump fossil fuel clients

Social  •  The Energy Mix  •  Washington Post

The Washington Post reports that a letter signed by more than 450 scientists is the latest salvo in an intensifying effort to convince public relations and ad agencies to stop underwriting the fortunes of fossil fuel clients that thwart climate action.