Recent developments with this initiative
Monday, April 22, 2013
The City of Vancouver was recognized as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for the second year in a row by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers. This award honours organizations with a culture of environmental awareness, where thinking green guides how they operate today and plan for tomorrow.
Monday, April 15, 2013
The Point Grey Road-Cornwall Avenue Corridor Active Transportation Project proposes creating a safe, convenient and comfortable connection for pedestrians and cyclists between Burrard Bridge and Jericho Beach. The City completed Phase 1 consultation for Point Grey-Cornwall Avenue Active Transportation Corridor on February 28. Over 500 people attended the open houses and over 1,300 people completed the questionnaire online to share their thoughts on this project.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The distinguished Earth Hour City Challenge jury recognized the City of Vancouver as the international champion. The city challenge, created by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), celebrates cities that are taking amazing steps towards a 100% renewable future. The City also joins millions in celebrating WWF's Earth Hour on March 23, 2013 from 8:30 to 9:30pm.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Helping families connect to nature near their home. Making small Vancouver businesses more energy efficient. Holding bike skills courses for low-income individuals. Creating a sustainable, community-supported fishery for Vancouver. These are just a few of the 150 projects supported in the first year of the Greenest City Fund. Check out the update that was brought to Council:
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Council approved Vancouver's Food Strategy, which builds upon years of work the City has done together with the Vancouver Food Policy Council. This strategy will help Vancouver integrate the full spectrum of urban food system issues within a single policy framework that includes urban agriculture, food processing, distribution, access and food waste management.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
The Comox-Helmcken Greenway is approved by Council. This greenway is part of the Transportation 2040 Plan's All Ages and Abilities Cycling Network. As part of the City Greenway and Regional Greenway network, the Comox-Helmcken Greenway will connect Stanley Park to False Creek and provide an important east-west walking and cycling connection through downtown to compliment the seawall and the network of downtown separated bike lanes.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
After two years of extensive consultation, and with the engagement of over 18,000 citizens, Vancouver City Council voted to approve the new Transportation 2040 plan, an ambitious and balanced framework for Vancouver's transportation future.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The City released the 2011-2012 Implementation Update, which describes the progress that has been made over the past year toward achieving the goals of the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Council approved a new neighbourhood energy strategy to target areas of the city with the greatest carbon reduction potential. This included actions that enable low-carbon conversions of existing steam heat systems at Vancouver hospitals and Central Heat Distribution Ltd., and new systems in areas where there is high-density development. The strategy will contribute to about a tenth of the greenhouse gas reductions (approximately 120,000 tonnes) needed to meet the City's leadership goal.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
The City's expanded residential food scraps recycling program rolled out across the entire city. All residents who live in houses and duplexes can now put all types of food scraps into their green bins, including meats, fish, bones, dairy, breads, cooked foods, and yard waste.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Vancouver has become the first Canadian municipality to adopt a comprehensive climate change adaptation strategy based on the proven Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) planning framework.
Tuesday, April 25, 2012
The City, in partnership with the Vancouver Foundation, launched the Greenest City Fund, which will support green ideas generated and implemented by the community over the next four years.
Tuesday, March 5, 2012
The City adopted a new green desktop program, that will automatically put every staff member's computer to "sleep" after 20 minutes of inactivity. This green operations initiative will save $30,000 a year in electricity.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The City accepted a prestigious national award today, when the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) named Vancouver a winner of a 2012 FCM Sustainable Communities Award for the City’s Greenest City 2020 Action Plan (GCAP).
How the City developed this plan
During the development of the Greenest City Action Plan, more than 35,000 people participated in the process online, through social media, and in face-to-face workshops and events.
More than 9,500 people, most of whom lived in Vancouver, actively added their ideas, insights, and feedback to help determine the best path to achieve this plan.
With over 60 City staff, more than 120 organizations, and thousands of individuals contributing to the creation of the Greenest City Action Plan, we have set the example for best practices in citizen collaboration, and built the kinds of partnerships required for achieving the goals and targets.
What it will take to reach our targets
Vision
The Greenest City 2020 Action Plan is a strategy for staying on the leading edge of urban sustainability.
The City's vision is to create opportunities today, while building a strong local economy, vibrant and inclusive neighbourhoods, and an internationally recognized city that meets the needs of generations to come.
Leadership
Leadership is required from City staff and elected officials, from organizations operating in diverse sectors across the city, and from Vancouver residents - many of whom have already contributed to the development of this plan.
The City will need to lead the way in its own operations as well, demonstrating what a Greenest City looks like in City-run buildings, facilities, and operations.
Leadership from other levels of government and other public sector agencies will also be critical to our success.
Action
A plan like this is only useful when it is acted upon. The Greenest City Action Plan gives clear targets to work towards, with baseline numbers to indicate our current level of performance.
The highest priority actions for the next three years have been identified, as well as strategies and actions that will help to achieve our targets by 2020.
Partnerships
The City can't achieve the Greenest City Action Plan by itself. Partnerships will be the key to achieving this plan.
The process of developing the Greenest City Action Plan, as well as the implementation of the many quick-start actions, demonstrates the power of partnerships in building our future city.
