Embodied Carbon Reduction in British Columbia Municipalities’ New Residential Development Projects
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Issue Date
2024
Editor
Authors
Schmidt Covo, Matthew, Bernhardt
License
Subject
School of environment and sustainability
Abstract
Following federal efforts, local governments across Canada are developing and implementing climate change mitigation strategies. British Columbia municipalities (including Vancouver, Port Moody, Nelson, Squamish, Whistler, and Saanich) aspire to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and attain net-zero emissions in municipal operations by 2040. However, current literature falls short of informing BC municipalities’ action plans regarding standards for reducing embodied carbon in new residential developments, municipal buildings, and infrastructure projects. This thesis explores local governments’ policies related to embodied carbon in the design, construction, and end-of-life dismantling of new and existing buildings. Based on interviews with key stakeholders, the research sought to articulate intervention points by examining BC municipalities’ current capacity, coordination, and regulation. The thesis examines how embodied carbon reduction can be incorporated into municipal planning and policy for residential development, and it offers recommendations for municipalities’ future embodied carbon reduction policies.
Description
2024