AGM Motion on Climate Change Initiative Defeated

At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 28, attendees voted against a registrant-submitted motion proposing that specifying gas-fired equipment in buildings be avoided.

The motion, which was voted down 359-133, asked that the Board consider regulatory options to:

1. Establish expectations and obligations for registrants to:
   1. avoid specifying gas-fired equipment in new and existing buildings (e.g., furnaces, boilers, water heaters, etc.) wherever it is technically feasible, opting instead for efficient, electrified alternatives; and
   2. where it is determined that use of gas-fired equipment is unavoidable due to factors such as site constraints, performance requirements, availability, and lifecycle considerations, document the rationale and demonstrate that all lower-carbon design strategies, including electrical load management, were duly considered.
2. Support registrants’ understanding of the risk of significant harm posed by climate change and the use of gas-fired equipment in new and existing buildings by strengthening educational resources related to these topics. 

“This topic isn’t a simple one,” said Board Chair Mark Porter, P.Eng., Struct.Eng. “Climate change is a complex and multi-faceted issue lending itself to many different perspectives.”

Those who spoke in favour of the motion, including the motion’s mover Roberto Pecora, P.Eng., and seconder Scott Kennedy, P.Eng., highlighted the urgency to respond to the impacts of climate change and stressed that the motion was not intended to be a ban on gas-powered systems.

However, the motion’s opponents noted that limiting options available to engineers and prioritizing electrified systems could stifle innovation and leave communities with frequent power outages stranded in hazardous weather. Others believed the organization should not mandate the use of certain products over others.

Registrants have the opportunity to submit motions in advance of the AGM for the Board’s consideration. All motions are non-binding and advisory to the Board.

Photo: Roberto Pecora, P.Eng., speaks to his motion at the AGM. Credit: Wendy D Photography