CCA paper calls for focus on sustainable infrastructure
A new research paper issued by the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) calls on the federal government to put a focus on investing in sustainable infrastructure as it builds back the country’s infrastructure in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report, Strength, resilience, sustainability: Canada’s construction sector recommendations on adapting to climate change, highlights the benefits of sustainable and resilient infrastructure that can withstand the effects of climate change. The report also explores the measures the industry has taken to adopt sustainable practices, and uses that insight to inform recommendations for how the industry can work alongside the government to accelerate progress in mitigating the impact of climate change on infrastructure.
“The construction industry in Canada has already implemented many sustainable practices and is eager to continue doing so, but a major challenge we face is the need for government investment and a more supportive environment for fostering innovation within the sector,” says CCA president Mary Van Buren. “Economic recovery discussions are an opportune time for the government and our industry to partner to ensure that large-scale infrastructure is built with resiliency that can withstand changing weather patterns and events.”
The CCA says now is the time for the federal government to change the way in which public infrastructure projects are determined and funded. Canada’s construction industry contributes $141 billion to the national GDP each year and employs approximately 1.4 million people across the country. It also consumes about 40 percent of Canada’s energy. Those metrics make the industry better able than most to affect change in the buildings sector.
One barrier to green investment, says the CCA, is the higher upfront costs, despite the fact that there can be lower costs over the lifetime of an environmentally-friendly asset. In fact, research indicates that benefits of investing in green infrastructure can outweigh the costs by a ratio of six to one.
Climate-related risks to physical infrastructure in Canada include damage from flooding, extreme precipitation, high winds or ice storms, wildfires, power outages and grid failures associated with heatwaves and high demand for air conditioning, thawing permafrost, among others.
To address some of these issues, the sector has already introduced innovations in building infrastructure that is more resilient to climate change; applied building retrofits for greater energy efficiency; integrated new (or proven) materials into projects; found opportunity in the growing need for transparency of climate risk of infrastructure; and maximized partnerships where possible.
The report says the federal government has a role to play to promote climate-resilient infrastructure by allowing for higher upfront costs to build such facilities, and by de-risking innovation. Without changes to existing practices to consider climate resiliency in infrastructure, climate change costs for Canada could escalate from roughly $5 billion per year in 2020 to between $21 and $43 billion per year by the 2050s.
The CCA calls the federal government’s National Infrastructure Assessment exercise “an important step” for developing a long-term action plan for the sector. The assessment aims to use data and evidence to identify Canada’s long-term infrastructure needs and priorities, linking government investments with desired policy outcomes, and ensuring a plan for pandemic recovery that creates jobs, competitive advantage, and long-term growth, while building a cleaner, more inclusive future for all Canadians.
It adds, however, that more is needed, including new approaches that are informed by the latest data and technologies and codified into standards, regulations, and corporate practices over time.
“A rigorous approach to continuous improvement is what will ensure that investments in infrastructure resilience have the greatest impact, both financially and environmentally,” says the report.
The CCA adds that project scoping should make room for climate-resiliency considerations.