Carbon Neutrality Objective - The city announces a first step towards carbon neutrality for its real estate assets

MONTRÉAL, May 6, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - The city is developing, along with its C40 partners and various foundations, a strategy that will enable it to lower the carbon emissions of its properties and make them more energy-efficient by gradually moving away from heating oil, and towards renewable energies. The city aims to reach carbon neutrality for all municipal buildings by 2030, for all new buildings on its territory by 2030, as well as for all existing buildings on its territory, by 2050.  

"The fight against climate change is a priority for our administration. The city started by focusing on the replacement of oil heating systems, an energy source that dates back an entire century, in its municipal buildings. To achieve this, we have earmarked investments of $4M by 2021. The city now wishes to encourage Montrealers to transition towards other types of heating that do not use oil," explained the mayor of Montréal, Valérie Plante.

Decarbonizing Montréal's real-estate properties by 2050
Heating oil remains responsible for 28% of greenhouse gas emissions in the residential sector, and 14% of greenhouse gas emissions in the commercial and institutional sectors across the urban agglomeration of Montréal.  

"We are at the very beginning of a long-term project. Our metropolis will reach its ambitious Zero Carbon goals, thanks to the implementation of our future Climate Plan, to be developed as part of the collaboration agreement signed with C40, the Trottier Family Foundation and the David Suzuki Foundation this past December. We will take action progressively, namely through voluntary oil substitution programs. Moreover, we will table by 2020, a draft by-law aiming to ban oil heating systems in all new buildings on the territory of the urban agglomeration of Montréal," added Mayor Plante.  

The ban and mandatory removal of heating oil will be undertaken gradually as of 2025, and until 2030, in industrial, institutional and commercial sectors, and will end with the residential sector. In order for these measures to be equitable, they will be adapted for low-income families. Moreover, community-based stakeholders such as the industry, business-owners and citizens will be consulted, in order to achieve a gradual transition towards carbon neutrality.

One Planet Charter and Net Zero Carbon Building Declaration
As part of its participation in the Global Climate Action Summit, in September 2018, the city announced the signature of the One Planet Charter which aims, among other things, to develop an action plan by 2020, the Paris-compatible Climate Action Plan Commitment or Deadline 2020. This greenhouse gas reduction and climate change adaptation plan must be compatible with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, and aims for carbon neutrality by 2050.  

The city has also committed to the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Declaration, aiming to decarbonize its real-estate properties, both within the municipal administration and the community as a whole. More specifically, it aims for the adoption of by-laws and policies guaranteeing carbon neutrality:

• For municipal buildings, by 2030 ;
• For new buildings across the territory of Montréal, by 2030;
• For all existing buildings in Montréal, by 2050.

Quotes

"The move from fuel oil to more energy-efficient heating sources keeps the City of Montréal on target with its climate action goals while also creating healthy and comfortable homes for the its citizens", said David Miller, Director of International Diplomacy and the Regional Director of North America at C40.

"In this time of climate emergency, we must spare no effort to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in the very short term. By announcing the quick elimination of heating oil and the carbon neutrality of all new buildings by 2030, the city is taking meaningful action. We commend the city's vision and leadership," said Karel Mayrand, Director General, Québec and Atlantic Canada, David Suzuki Foundation.

"By committing to reaching carbon neutrality for its real estate properties by 2030, our metropolis sets the example and shows leadership in the fight against climate change. As a financial partner of the city's future Climate Plan, we are thrilled to see concrete action being taken and clear objectives being set, along with related investments, just months after concluding our collaboration agreement," said Éric St-Pierre, Trottier Family Foundation.

SOURCE Ville de Montréal - Cabinet de la mairesse et du comité exécutif

Source: Geneviève Jutras, Attachée de presse de la mairesse, Cabinet de la mairesse et du comité exécutif, 514 243-1268; Information: Camille Bégin, Relationniste, Division des relations médias, 514 872-2921, [email protected]