Paris Conference will have impact on buildings

Leaders at Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, November 30, 2015

As the Paris UN Climate Conference, “COP21,” got under way, the Canada Green Building Council announced new commitments to “fight the battle of climate change” in Canada.

As one step in its platform, the CaGBC is committing to supporting the building industry to move towards a wide adoption of net zero buildings. Net zero energy buildings are those that do not consume any more energy than they produce on site.

The council also says it will be launching new initiatives to increase investment in green buildings, will work with governments at all levels to promote green building and sustainability policies, and will work with its members and stakeholders to set ambitious targets.

At the same time the council was celebrating its 1000th LEED-certified project in Ontario, and its 175th LEED platinum (the highest level) certified project in Canada.

Over 150 leaders from around the world, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, attended the opening of the Paris conference where improving the energy efficiency of buildings has been earmarked as one of the most important avenues for reducing the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The build-up of such greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is believed to be causing climate change and global warming.

Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said at the conference opening, “The Paris Agreement is not only possible, it is necessary and urgent. We are counting on everyone’s contribution.”

The conference in Paris is the 11th such meeting following the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in December 1997. The Paris “Conference of Parties, COP21” is hoping to achieve a legally binding agreement by December 11 on how to keep global warming below 2°C.  Click here.