Van. sets precedent for building carbon targets

BIZ  Carbon, Real Estate  •  Land  •  Metro Vancouver, British Columbia

The City of Vancouver’s regulations to slash embodied emissions from new construction are some of the most stringent in North America, according to a consultant who works with developers to deliver climate-smart construction.

CarbiCrete gets funding for carbon-negative concrete

BIZ  Carbon  •  Investment, Technology  •  Ontario, Quebec

Carbon removal technology company CarbiCrete has received $3.4 million in funds from Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen), for the next stage of its project to develop the world’s first commercially available carbon-negative concrete blocks.

Experts caution against ‘air-conditioned society’

Real Estate  •  Toronto Star

Experts caution that residents and policymakers need to think beyond air conditioning as the predominant solution to the risks as climate change fuels heat waves that scientists say are becoming hotter and more frequent.

The ESG Report › The ESG Report: Crown Realty, Enbridge

Tyler Choi: Writer

European fund managers set to go all-in on ESG: PwC

Finance  •  Reuters

Over two-thirds of European asset managers and distributors are considering halting the launch or distribution of products that do not comply with environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, a survey by PwC Luxembourg showed.

How to start using an internal carbon price

Carbon  •  GreenBiz

As companies work to cut emissions and achieve net-zero, an internal carbon price has become a more frequently used tool for companies to convert emissions metrics into dollars. Microsoft may be the exemplar to look at.

How to fix the broken carbon-offset system

Carbon  •  Corporate Knights

A mix of failures and redeeming opportunities for carbon-offset systems reflects the broader complexity of transitioning to a low-carbon economy, and how it can be fixed with fair carbon-storage payments for people who live and work most closely with forests.

Beware of the risk of ‘green inflation’

Real Estate  •  La Presse

The costs generated by climate events and the energy-efficiency transition will weigh on the economy and financial markets just as much as inflation. A special report from the Desjardins Group focuses on a phenomenon called “green inflation”.

How buildings must adapt to the climate crisis

Real Estate  •  Treehugger

To adapt to rising temperatures, North American cities can consider building in climate resilience through means as simple as having more shade.

Construction, climate change in fire and flood season

Real Estate  •  Daily Commercial News

VIDEO: Climate changes incidents across Canada are forcing a rethink in government and industry as wildfires, extreme heat, flooding and heavy rains strain infrastructure and damage and destroy commercial and private property.

Solar seeks to quench Texas’ thirst for electrical power

Real Estate  •  Daily Commercial News

Summer heat has already hit Texas this year with a predicted surge in demand for electricity. Over the June 11 and 12 weekend, demand hit an all-time peak, surpassing 75 gigawatts. Innovative solar power projects may be key to sustaining high electricity demand.

Tokyo June heat wave worst since 1875

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

Japan baked under scorching temperatures for a fourth successive day on Tuesday, as the capital’s heat broke nearly 150-year-old records for June and authorities warned power supply remained tight enough to raise the spectre of cuts.

Canada delays fuel standards, with a catch for industry

Real Estate  •  Financial Post

The Canadian federal government is delaying new emissions standards on gasoline and diesel another year, but is demanding the oil and gas sector make bigger cuts to fuel emissions by 2030, given how much more money the companies are now making.

Can these ideas solve the lithium supply crunch?

Energy  •  GreenBiz

Analysts warn that a lithium supply chain crunch could come as soon as 2023 — and put a potential damper on U.S. vehicle electrification goals. But can closed loop battery recycling and geothermal lithium be the twin solutions?

Tata Chemicals Europe opens carbon capture plant

Carbon  •  Environmental Leader

Tata Chemicals Europe opened the UK’s first industrial-scale carbon capture and usage plant that will capture 40,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year and convert it into raw material used in the manufacture of sodium bicarbonate.

Why Germany wants an emission-cutters fast lane

Carbon  •  Christian Science Monitor

EU ministers balance climate and economic strain

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

Ministers from European Union countries will meet this week to attempt to agree joint plans to fight climate change, with some diplomats saying countries under economic pressure might water down some of the most ambitious targets proposed by Brussels.

Siemens wins order for 882 MW offshore wind project

Energy  •  Renewable Energy Magazine

Siemens Gamesa has been awarded a firm order for the delivery of 60 units of its SG 14-222 DD offshore wind turbine at the 882 megawatt Moray West offshore wind power project located in Scotland.

Bank of America purchasing RECs to power operations

Carbon  •  Environmental Leader

Bank of America will power nearly 17 per cent of its electricity needs through renewable energy certificates from a solar project being developed in Indiana through a 15-year, 160-megawatt deal to purchase power and project-specific renewable energy certificates (RECs).

Bitcoin’s energy demands are leading a crypto backlash

Energy  •  Yale 360

The enormous energy demands of Bitcoin mining are prompting some U.S. municipalities to impose moratoriums or outright bans on cryptocurrency facilities. Bitcoin mining activity, critics warn, is leading to electricity price hikes and a revival of dirtier sources of power.