Vancouver has made greening its top priority. Their Greenest City 2020 Action Plan contains ambitious targets that span all departments.
One of the main focus areas is buildings and energy; specifically reducing carbon emissions while replacing them with renewable sources of electricity. Furthermore, the City has made strides towards electric mobility and district energy (neighborhood energy).
Vancouver’s Eco-Friendly Building Codes
Buildings account for two-thirds of global carbon emissions, making Vancouver a pioneer in creating greener building codes. Their commitment to climate action can be seen through their Greenest City Action Plan developed through public consultation and their efforts in combatting transportation-related emissions as a top source.
Vancouver’s new Energy Step Code seeks to meet this challenge head on by mandating that all buildings reduce operational emissions by at least 20%, by mandating new construction meet current high-rise performance standards, as well as setting an onsite carbon pollution limit based on heating energy consumption calculations – encouraging renewable natural gas use as an offset against electricity-based heating needs.
The city’s plans to implement new regulations for existing buildings will help reduce carbon pollution by cutting back on fossil fuel use for heating. These requirements will encourage installation of heat pumps, solar water heaters and other energy-saving measures that help lower carbon pollution.
Micah Lang, Senior Green Building Planner of Vancouver explains that energy efficiency measures are especially vital for low-rise residential structures like single family homes and laneway houses. Such structures often use natural gas for heating and hot water purposes; the new requirements will enable them to switch over to alternative energy sources like solar.
Vancouver’s Commitment to Clean Mobility
Vancouver is one of the greenest cities in North America, featuring cyclists and buses to cut carbon emissions per capita. When Vision Vancouver assumed power in 2009, their goal was clear: Becoming the greenest city on earth.
Vision Vancouver set about reducing carbon emissions by targeting two of the key contributors of local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – buildings and transportation. In order to decrease building-related GHGs, Vision Vancouver expedited their transition from gas to clean electricity and made net-zero buildings mandatory in new developments. They also sought to lower energy consumption through improving building energy efficiency through installing insulation or switching to heat pumps where possible.
Municipal leaders took an innovative approach to transportation by prioritizing public transit and cycling infrastructure development within their city, as well as making purchasing electric vehicles easier with incentives introduced for purchasing them and an increase in charging stations across it. Furthermore, 17 electric cars have already been added to their fleet with plans to add more.
These efforts include developing land-use patterns conducive to walking and bicycling, as well as expanding sidewalks and bike lanes, in an attempt to make at least 50 percent of trips within their city using foot, bicycle or public transit by 2020; by 2050 it is projected that most personal vehicles in their city will be electric powered by renewable sources like hydropower.
Vancouver’s Ambitious Waste Reduction Strategy and Zero Waste Goal
Vancouver has long been home to local environmental activism. Indeed, Greenpeace began here after a small group of activists set sail from Vancouver in an attempt to stop an American nuclear weapon test off Alaska in 1971.
Today, the city remains at the forefront of environmentally-friendly solutions. Under its Greenest City action plan, ambitious goals have been established for waste reduction and combatting climate change globally.
Residents throughout the city are being encouraged to reduce their carbon footprint by recycling more frequently and taking advantage of resources that promote a sustainable lifestyle (e.g. electric vehicle charging stations, heat pumps that utilize grid electricity for heat generation, on-site renewables).
The city invests in initiatives designed to stimulate innovation in waste reduction and resource recovery technologies and systems. Project Greenlight, an open call process, welcomes entrepreneurs and innovators with ideas for green infrastructure solutions that could transform city operations and services.
This year, the City invested in a Zero Waste Centre which opened earlier this year to aid residents in reducing waste through education and on-site support to assist them with recycling or reusing materials from home. Furthermore, it supports the city’s goal of becoming zero-waste by increasing diversion from landfill and incineration.
Protecting and Expanding Vancouver’s Green Spaces
Vancouver is widely recognized as an innovator when it comes to sustainable living, thanks in large part to their ability to preserve and expand public green spaces – from urban parks and other amenities such as trails, beaches, wetlands and urban forest canopies.
The city also strives to give its residents access to nature through policies aimed at improving both physical and mental health, such as encouraging walking and cycling in safe, accessible environments by installing ample bike lanes, increasing pedestrian crossing signals, and making sidewalks more accessible for those with limited mobility.
One strategy to promote sustainable transportation solutions, including electric vehicles, is increasing their availability and supply. This will reduce motorized traffic demand while simultaneously improving air quality in urban areas. As part of this initiative, cities prioritize increasing renewable energy sources while simultaneously optimizing their existing electric vehicle infrastructure.
The city aims to increase its sustainability and climate resilience through various initiatives, such as its participation in the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities network. Here, it can access expertise, tools, support and funding opportunities provided through National Urban Parks program and Healthy Communities Initiative – helping implement green initiatives as well as create urban park-based environmental spaces that serve both climate resilience and community health goals.
Supporting Sustainable Agriculture in Vancouver and Local Food
Vancouver’s city government is striving to make living a sustainable lifestyle easier for its citizens, such as connecting them to their environment and encouraging sustainable behaviors such as conserving nature. To do so, Vancouver employs sensors throughout its streets that keep residents connected to their environment while also offering real-time data to make smart decisions based on environmental conditions. With these efforts in place, Vancouver achieved 12th spot as the world’s best sustainable city utilizing over 90% renewable energy while emitting the lowest levels of greenhouse gases per capita – thus earning Vancouver its place among 12 best world cities globally!
As part of their efforts towards sustainable transportation, the city aims to promote sustainable mobility by making biking and public transit safe and convenient. They have successfully reclaimed streets from traffic by creating AAA (“all-ages and abilities”) bike routes and protected biking paths in downtown core neighborhoods – stripping street parking spots, placing concrete planters as barriers, and installing dedicated bicycle lanes; as a result, more people were riding bikes while business owners experienced an upsurge in business following these changes.
As the global climate crisis worsens, cities are emerging as key agents of change. Responsible for two-thirds of carbon emissions globally and rapidly urbanising, these places have taken the initiative in adopting strategies beyond energy and transport emissions reduction to support economic growth, sustainable development and biodiversity conservation.
Vancouver’s Citizen-Led Green Initiatives
Vancouver’s dedication to environmental sustainability is evident by its lower per capita greenhouse gas emissions than any major North American city, yet they still face challenges in meeting their Greenest City Action Plan goals by 2030.
One of the city’s primary sustainability initiatives involves reducing its carbon footprint through energy efficient buildings and sustainable transportation options. To reach these objectives, steps have been taken such as installing electric vehicle charging stations throughout the city as well as increasing access to affordable electric cars in its inventory.
At present, Vancouver is working toward reducing GHGs through conversion of its bus fleet to hybrid and electric models; encouraging cycling and walking through an extensive network of sidewalks, bike paths and SkyTrain rapid transit system; setting an ambitious target to obtain all its electricity from renewable sources by 2050 (highly achievable given its ample hydroelectric resources); as well as setting a goal of reaching 100% renewable electricity consumption by that date.
Citizens in Sydney are playing an integral part in making these initiatives possible, serving as a model for other cities around the world looking to implement community-driven green initiatives. One innovative method of citizen engagement is Cool North Shore and Cool Neighbourhoods program which assists residents in making low-cost energy-saving upgrades to their home, with a focus on community involvement and new ideas being explored through this volunteer-led and staff-facilitated initiative.
In Conclusion
Vancouver’s Greenest City 2020 Action Plan has set an impressive standard for urban sustainability. Their commitment to reducing carbon emissions through eco-friendly building codes, clean mobility, waste reduction, and access to green spaces inspires cities worldwide. They have also successfully engaged citizens in community-driven green initiatives, proving that sustainability is a government responsibility and a collective effort.
Vancouver’s success in implementing sustainable practices shows that cities can thrive while prioritizing the planet’s health. By making smart investments in renewable energy, sustainable transportation, and green infrastructure, cities can reduce their carbon footprint and improve the quality of life for their citizens. Vancouver has set an example for other cities to follow, and we can only hope that more cities will take up the challenge of building a greener future for us all.