Editor:
Re: Burnaby’s downtown plan flies in the face of climate action, NOW Letters
I agree with Ms. Cohn that tearing down buildings and stores in the Metrotown area and then rebuilding them will have a large negative impact on our environment.
Manufacturing concrete requires a huge amount of energy. The cement industry creates about 8% of global carbon emissions. Tearing down buildings and then rebuilding them not only requires large amounts of concrete and other materials, it also requires the use of dump trucks and other heavy equipment with their associated emissions.
The City of Burnaby has declared a climate emergency and plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Emissions caused by demolitions and rebuilding within Burnaby city limits should also be included in the calculation of the city’s carbon footprint.
All of us should consider the environment when we replace used but perfect useable items with new ones, just for the sake of having something that is new.
Charlene Dorward, Burnaby
