The City of Toronto could soon require developers to ensure new buildings have fewer carbon emissions and consume less energy, while adding more green roofs and electric vehicle parking spots, as well as promoting native pollinator species like bees.

It’s all part of the city’s proposed fourth update to the Toronto Green Standard — a “critical” step toward Toronto’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, said Bryan Purcell, vice president of policy and programs at The Atmospheric Fund, a regional climate change agency.

“With a rapidly growing city, there is simply no path to net zero that doesn’t require a transition to near-zero new construction,” Purcell told the city’s Planning and Housing Committee Monday. 

“The Toronto Green Standard is by far Toronto’s most important climate policy.”

The committee passed the staff recommendations Monday, which will be considered by the full council in July.

This updated standard would kick in May 2022 and require new mid-high rise residential and commercial builders to cut annual greenhouse gases and energy use intensity a further 25 per cent and 28 per cent, respectively, compared to the current version. Right now, these targets are voluntary, but under Version Four they’d become mandatory. 

Buildings are responsible for 59 per cent of Toronto’s carbon emissions, The Atmospheric Fund reports. And with rapid growth and development expected over the next decades, many more will be added to the city’s skyline. That’s why the city’s trying to get ahead of potential emissions by aiming for new buildings to hit near net-zero by 2030.

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