--- title: "The Ingenuity Effect by BBA | Ensuring sustainability by tackling the climate crisis" date: 2023-07-20T00:00:00-04:00 author: jessica napert canonical_url: "https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/publications/ensuring-sustainability-by-tackling-the-climate-crisis" section: Publications --- 1. Since the beginning of summer, we’ve already experienced a series of extreme weather events. Worldwide heat records are being broken under the combined effects of global warming and El Niño. Many ecosystems and the people who live in them are vulnerable. So are industries. As societies strive to mitigate the effects of climate change, the word “resilience” is on everyone’s lips. The IPCC defines resilience as “the capacity of social, economic, and environmental systems to cope with a hazardous event or trend or disturbance, responding or reorganizing in ways that maintain their essential function, identity, and structure, while also maintaining the capacity for adaptation, learning, and transformation.” ### For industry, resilience means several things: #### Designing infrastructure to withstand extreme weather “Industrial companies operate critical infrastructure,” says Dave Olsthoorn, ing, M.Sc.A., Mechanical Engineer at BBA. “That’s why it’s vitally important on every project to determine design parameters that will shield it from climate change. We need to go above and beyond established standards to design each project on the basis of the risks associated with its location and operations, and we must apply best practices in sustainable development.” #### Innovating and changing how we operate “Engineers and scientists are used to responding to problems as they arise,” notes Mario Cantin, Director – Environment at BBA. “Today, we need to shift this paradigm and act preventively. In practical terms, this means, first of all, lowering our CO2 emissions as much as possible and then working to develop and implement new technologies to limit global warming.” #### Making the land our ally in adapting to climate change “Nature is as much a part of the solution as technological innovation,” says Frédéric Gauthier, Project Manager – Environment and Sustainable Development at BBA. “For example, vegetation can help prevent erosion, retain water and cool the atmosphere. We need to approach projects with a holistic vision and work in harmony with ecosystems.” #### Adopting flexible governance The FSB Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) lists transitioning to a low-carbon economy as one of the climate risks facing industry. More and more, we need to adopt green technologies, but businesses also need flexible governance to respond quickly to the bumps in the road during the transition. Industrial companies are key players in the energy transition. But to fully contribute to it, they need to make resilience a core component of their business model. 2. This content is for general information purposes only. All rights reserved ©BBA 1. ![Dave Olsthoorn](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/146851/DaveOlsthoorn.webp) Dave Olsthoorn, P.Eng., M.A.Sc. Engineer, Energy and Air Quality [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-olsthoorn-ing-m-sc-a-06307298/) 2. ![Pr employee men mario cantin retouch web SQ LR BBA](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/204325/pr_employee_men_mario-cantin_retouch_web_SQ_LR_BBA.webp) Mario Cantin, B.Sc., VEA/EESA Environment Director, Eastern Canada Read bio [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-cantin-18b00199/) **For over 30 years,** Mario has supported developers and decision-makers in integrating environmental and regulatory challenges into mining, oil, gas, industrial and energy projects. **Key expertise** - Navigating environmental requirements, governance, authorities and business objectives - Strategic communication and consulting - Assessing environmental impacts of projects - Land-use planning **Major achievements:** Mario has contributed to over 200 projects, including many international projects across the Americas, Africa, Europe and Australia. He has led multidisciplinary mandates for major developers, often in remote and complex environments. **Approach and added value:** Mario's strategic leadership helps reduce risk, speed up decision-making and strengthen project credibility. 3. ![Frédéric Gauthier](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/152291/FredericGauthier.webp) Frédéric Gauthier Senior Environmental Professional [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredericgauthierfgdd/) - [ 27 Apr 2023 Power and Renewables Preserving biodiversity: an attainable challenge for industry - ![Frédéric Gauthier](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/152291/FredericGauthier.webp) - ![5129](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/212134/Photos_Experts-Leaders-3.webp) ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/publications/preserving-biodiversity-an-attainable-challenge-for-industry "Preserving biodiversity: an attainable challenge for industry") - [ 10 Apr 2023 Power and Renewables The transition to renewable energy is more accessible than ever, and it’s not just about environmental benefits - ![Francois Vitez](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/184601/Francois_Vitez.webp) François Vitez, P.Eng. Vice-President, Power and Renewables Market ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/publications/the-transition-to-renewable-energy-is-more-accessible-than-ever-and-its-not-just-about-environmental-benefits "The transition to renewable energy is more accessible than ever, and it’s not just about environmental benefits") - [ 15 Mar 2023 Power and Renewables Energy efficiency can generate substantial savings. So, where should we start? - ![Nicholas Allen](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/3313/Nicholas-Allen.webp) - ![Ec employee men alexandre rousseau retouch web SQ LR BBA](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/204275/ec_employee_men_alexandre-rousseau_retouch_web_SQ_LR_BBA.webp) ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/publications/energy-efficiency-can-generate-substantial-savings-so-where-should-we-start "Energy efficiency can generate substantial savings. So, where should we start?") - [ 25 Jan 2023 Power and Renewables Digital technology helps industrial companies rebuild trust - ![3318 Jean Francois Beaulieu](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/191591/3318_Jean_Francois_Beaulieu.webp) Jean-François Beaulieu Director, Digital Consultant ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/publications/digital-technology-helps-industrial-companies-rebuild-trust "Digital technology helps industrial companies rebuild trust") [ See all ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights) Let’s think it further together [ Contact us ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/contact) 1. Since the beginning of summer, we’ve already experienced a series of extreme weather events. Worldwide heat records are being broken under the combined effects of global warming and El Niño. Many ecosystems and the people who live in them are vulnerable. So are industries. As societies strive to mitigate the effects of climate change, the word “resilience” is on everyone’s lips. The IPCC defines resilience as “the capacity of social, economic, and environmental systems to cope with a hazardous event or trend or disturbance, responding or reorganizing in ways that maintain their essential function, identity, and structure, while also maintaining the capacity for adaptation, learning, and transformation.” ### For industry, resilience means several things: #### Designing infrastructure to withstand extreme weather “Industrial companies operate critical infrastructure,” says Dave Olsthoorn, ing, M.Sc.A., Mechanical Engineer at BBA. “That’s why it’s vitally important on every project to determine design parameters that will shield it from climate change. We need to go above and beyond established standards to design each project on the basis of the risks associated with its location and operations, and we must apply best practices in sustainable development.” #### Innovating and changing how we operate “Engineers and scientists are used to responding to problems as they arise,” notes Mario Cantin, Director – Environment at BBA. “Today, we need to shift this paradigm and act preventively. In practical terms, this means, first of all, lowering our CO2 emissions as much as possible and then working to develop and implement new technologies to limit global warming.” #### Making the land our ally in adapting to climate change “Nature is as much a part of the solution as technological innovation,” says Frédéric Gauthier, Project Manager – Environment and Sustainable Development at BBA. “For example, vegetation can help prevent erosion, retain water and cool the atmosphere. We need to approach projects with a holistic vision and work in harmony with ecosystems.” #### Adopting flexible governance The FSB Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) lists transitioning to a low-carbon economy as one of the climate risks facing industry. More and more, we need to adopt green technologies, but businesses also need flexible governance to respond quickly to the bumps in the road during the transition. Industrial companies are key players in the energy transition. But to fully contribute to it, they need to make resilience a core component of their business model. 2. This content is for general information purposes only. All rights reserved ©BBA