More Greenwashing of the Construction Agenda

“Buildings account for nearly half of all greenhouse gas pollution generated in the city,” said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps

Thank you Mayor Helps for finally admitting that as you are on your way out.

Don't you think it's a bit ironic then that your legacy to the city is probably the most massive and rapid building boom that it has ever seen?

Last year I wrote a letter to the editor about exactly this issue:

Since then Mayor and Council have pushed a massive construction agenda for Victoria which can only cause a further surge in GHG emissions in the city.

Although I salute the move at last to prevent unnecessary C02 emissions in newly constructed buildings. Let's take the claim that these are zero carbon buildings with a bit of scientific skepticism. The actual construction of those buildings, the forestry, mining, manufacturing and shipping involved as well as the carbon intensive supply lines and energy it takes to support city life is not carbon neutral and will not be anywhere near the timeline being suggested.

If anything the construction industry which has been consulted on this seems to be trying to greenwash its own image yet again through environmental PR without following through on the basic logic of the situation: the more we build unsustainably and endlessly through a growth based model, the more damage will be caused to nature and the life support systems that we depend on. Bulldozing trees for more high-rises is not the solution, it is the problem.

As someone once said: "The greenest building is the one not built".

Source for Mayor's quote: https://www.vicnews.com/news/victoria-mandates-zero-carbon-new-buildings-by-2025-ahead-of-b-c-timeline/