(Montreal) All buildings in Montreal must be powered exclusively by fully renewable energy by 2040, rather than 2050, and new construction must be “zero emissions” from 2025.
Posted at 9:20 a.m.
Updated at 10:32 a.m.
Mayor Valérie Plante made the announcement Tuesday morning at the Montreal Climate Summit taking place at Bonsecours Market.
The “zero emissions” threshold will come into effect from 2024 for buildings of less than 2,000 square meters, and from 2025 for building permit applications of 2,000 square meters and more.
Also, as of 2023, it will be mandatory for owners of small buildings to declare all heating appliances using fuel (oil or gas).
Regarding existing buildings, the objective is for them to be powered by 100% renewable energy by 2040.
“It is an important and necessary gesture that we are taking in order to accelerate the ecological transition, because I repeat, we cannot wait any longer to act,” declared Mayor Valérie Plante.
The City intends to work in collaboration with Hydro-Québec “to encourage all promoters and developers to implement the most promising solutions” in terms of energy efficiency.
“The decarbonization of our economy notably involves the efficient electrification of existing buildings. As much as it is necessary to reduce the use of fossil fuels, it is also important to do so at the best possible cost. We are very pleased to support the City of Montreal in implementing best practices in this area,” commented Sophie Brochu, President and CEO of Hydro-Québec.
In addition, Ivanhoé Cambridge took advantage of the summit to announce that it will reduce the carbon footprint of its Montreal assets by 55% by 2030.
“This commitment, which is currently equivalent to a reduction of approximately 8,000 tonnes of CO2 (teq. CO2) will allow the company’s Montreal portfolio to follow a trajectory aligned with a 1.5 degree Celsius scenario, in line with the goal of the Paris Agreement,” the real estate developer said in a statement.
Ministers Charrette and Guilbeault present at the summit
Nearly 500 people are taking part in the Montreal Climate Summit, which aims to accelerate climate action in the metropolis.
The federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, addressed Montreal leaders from the business, philanthropic, political, community and environmental communities present at the event.
“I have to accept that I won’t be able to win all my battles, don’t think that by being in government, I can solve everything on my own,” said Minister Guilbeault, adding that he understood people’s disappointment with the controversial Bay du Nord oil project, to which he gave his approval.
A handful of demonstrators disguised as clowns entered the Bonsecours Market to express their disappointment with the Bay du Nord project.
Protesters chanted Minister Guilbeault’s name during Quebec’s Environment Minister Benoit Charette’s speech, but security officials quickly shut down the demonstration.
The regional director of public health for Montreal, the DD Mylène Drouin is also one of the speakers participating in the summit.
Several workshops address topics such as measures to adapt to climate change, alternatives to fossil fuels for the housing stock, financing the fight against climate change and accelerating the electrification of transport.
This summit is organized by the Montreal Climate Partnership and the City of Montreal, in collaboration with the Montreal Regional Council for the Environment, Vivre en ville, the Institut du Québec, Propulsion Québec, the Trottier Family Foundation and the Junior Chamber of Montreal business.