Building Net Zero Buildings Now - by Councillor Mike Layton, seconded by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie

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The decision

2019-11-26 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on November 26 and 27, 2019, adopted the following: 1. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, in consultation with all divisions and agencies, to report on the impacts of Toronto's Climate Emergency direction, as it pertains to new buildings in the City construction pipeline: a. for buildings already in the design or construction procurement phase, report back as part of the 2020 budget process with estimates of both the associated costs and any delays to ensure these buildings are net zero; and b.

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for buildings in the pre-design phase, report back during the design phase for any additional costs to achieve net zero emissions. 2. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, in consultation with all divisions and agencies, to report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the third quarter of 2020 on the impacts of Toronto's Climate Emergency direction, as it pertains to investments in existing City buildings that are anticipated to have a lifespan beyond 2040 and identify the costs associated with implementing alternative net zero options. 3. City Council, as estimates of cost become available, request the Federal Government to provide ongoing funding to support the transition to net zero buildings, as part of a funding ask to support Toronto's commitment to be net zero.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

In response to rising global temperatures due to increasing greenhouse gases being emitted into the Earth's atmosphere, in 2019 the City of Toronto declared a climate change emergency. Toronto set its new greenhouse gases target to restrict global average temperature change to 1.5 degrees celsius, in accordance with the 2015 Paris agreement, which means achieving net zero carbon emissions before 2050, and by some calculations, as early as 2040.

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The response to the climate crisis requires bold action now, or enormous costs and impacts on quality of life will come later. Toronto must start building net zero buildings now! Buildings account for 52 percent of greenhouse gases emissions in Toronto. Toronto's corporate emissions from buildings accounts for 14 percent of corporate emissions. The Toronto Green Standard sets out that all new construction buildings be near Zero by 2030. The existing TransformTO goal is that all new City facilities be built to near-zero emissions by 2026. While the portion that comes from City owned buildings is small - we must lead by example. Toronto must ensure all buildings we build achieve our stated target of net zero before 2050. To that end, the design of projects currently in the capital budget that have building systems with a life expectancy beyond 2040, need to be reconsidered to ensure they are helping achieve our stated climate goals. It is much more cost-effective to implement net-zero design at the beginning of a project, rather than retrofit it after. Through this Motion, we hope to evaluate which new City of Toronto buildings could be advanced to net zero without incurring significant delay in project timelines and could readily be advanced to net zero with some additional investment. The Federal government campaigned on a commitment of net zero by 2050. We should explore all opportunities to collaborate with the Federal Government to help it meet its ambitious target and should investigate potential funding opportunities to assist the City of Toronto in advancing its TransformTO goal to net zero in the City's new buildings now.

Staff recommended

Councillor Mike Layton, seconded by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie, recommends that: 1. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, in consultation with all divisions and agencies, to report on the impacts of Toronto's Climate Emergency direction for net zero before 2050, as part of the 2020 budget process, such report to include developing a list of any proposed buildings whose equipment may contribute

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to greenhouse gas emissions (boilers, etc.) and whose anticipated useful life is beyond 2040, as well as what the costs and delays might be to ensure these buildings are net zero or could be made net zero in the future.

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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