Vancouver Canada - A Green City Model
Environmental Monitoring and Sustainable Business
Oct 29, 2009
In an impressive effort to reduce carbon dependency and support ways to stimulate green jobs, the city of Vancouver, Canada initiated an inspiring 10-year plan in 2009 headed by Mayor Gregor Robertson, City Council and its Greenest City Action Team. This is a model that could become a framework for other cities to emulate.
The city has already seen progress toward a greater greening of the city with the addition of more bike paths and increased public transit options – all focused on reducing city automobile use to lessen greenhouse gas emissions. A public relations campaign has also seen more community gardens added to the inventory of over 2010 city plots.
“This action team will ignite the city’s efforts to enhance sustainability and make real progress on ‘greening’ Vancouver,” said Mayor Robertson. “I’m thrilled that such experienced and talented people are willing to step up and volunteer to help Vancouver meet our environmental challenges. This team will also develop strategies to make Vancouver a leader in creating green-collar jobs. Our economic recovery needs to embrace the opportunity – and the necessity - of environmental sustainability.” (As reported in a February 2009 city media release.)
Environmental Issues in Vancouver, B.C.
Some may say that Vancouver already can boast about its green natural beauty – a city surrounded by stunning mountains, ocean views and forested landscape. The city’s location amidst this natural beauty might have given city politicians the extra impetus to find ways to preserve its naturalness amidst the pressures of urban development.
The Vancouver Greenest City Action Team has a mandate to explore the following environmental issues:
- Tackle climate change
- Improve the transportation system
- Reduce pollution and waste
- Promote local food
- Conserve water
- Protect citizens’ health from environmental hazards
- Support neighbourhood sustainability initiatives
- Stimulate the development of green jobs and the green economy
- Protect nature and green space
- Specify government policy changes to facilitate Vancouver’s efforts to become a greener city.
- Identify potential joint projects with various organizations.
Vancouver has already made progress in reaching its goals of becoming the greenest city in the world by 2020, as reported in a September 2009 media release by the Communications Department of Vancouver City Hall. Council heard that two-thirds of the actions to address environmental sustainability were already underway, with more to follow.
Some Greenest City Action Team priority actions include:
- Working with six of the largest greenhouse gas producers, including industry and hospitals, to improve efficiencies and switch to renewable energy.
- Developing an Integrated Energy Strategy to include a carbon neutral building strategy with renewable energy on-site and district energy systems.
- Developing a Green Economic Development Strategy by creating jobs through City-led initiatives. Focus will be on clean energy and retrofitting, incentives for demonstrating clean technology and green buildings, and business clusters.
- Implementing City-wide composting with expanded organics collection program for single-family areas and food waste diversion options for multi-family and commercial areas as part of Metro Vancouver Zero Waste Challenge.
- A Green Jobs pilot project.
- Promotion of tap water.
- Adaptive LED street light project .
- Support for the introduction of electric vehicles.
Vancouver’s hosting of the 2010 Winter Olympics has also brought greater attention to the need for all Olympic host cities to create Green Olympics , in spite of major challenges.
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