Climate Protection

The City of Vancouver is a leader in climate protection. Vancouver was one of the first municipalities in North America to develop and resource Climate Change Action Plans and has been actively working on the implementation of these plans since 2004. More recently, the City has set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets for future years.

Climate Protection Targets

The City of Vancouver has established the following targets for reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) throughout our community:

• 6% by 2012
• 33% by 2020 (compared to 2007 baseline)
• 80% by 2050
• All new construction in Vancouver be GHG neutral by 2030

In addition, the City has Corporate targets for our own operations and facilities:

• 20% by 2010
• Carbon neutral operations by 2012

Unless otherwise stated all targets use 1990 as a baseline.

In recognition of its leadership towards climate protection, Vancouver has been invited as one of the four original member cities of the UN's Climate Neutral Network.

 

 

How are we doing?

Vancouver has accomplished a great deal in reducing greenhouse gases, particularly as they relate to energy use in our civic buildings and from landfill waste. There is, however, still much work that needs to be done to reduce emissions. Vancouver is on track to meet its 2010 Corporate greenhouse gas reduction target. While Vancouver clearly remains a North American leader in limiting and reducing community GHG emissions, ambitious new actions locally, provincially, and nationally will be required in order to meet our 2012 Community GHG reduction target.

Read the full The Climate Protection Progress Report, August 2007.

Download the Climate Protection Progress Report 2007 brochure.

 

Climate Protection Background - Cool Vancouver Task Force

In 2003 Council asked for expert advice from a diverse group of people who were experts on climate change. The group formed the Cool Vancouver Taskforce, bringing together a wide range of stakeholder groups in the City of Vancouver and the region including; educators, builders, environmentalists, corporate leaders and government. Based on recommendations of the Cool Vancouver Taskforce the City formed climate change goals. The goals became the Corporate Climate Change Action Plans (goals for City operations) and the Community Climate Change Action Plans (goals for community operations).

 

Community Climate Change Action Plan Summary

Target: 6% below 1990 levels by 2012

Approved by Council: March 2005

Priority areas:

1. Home renovations for energy efficiency
2. Energy efficient retrofits for institutional facilities
3. Energy efficient retrofits for large commercial buildings
4. Low carbon vehicle options such as bio-diesel fuel blends
5. Green energy and sustainable dense development
6. Active and public transportation
7. Encouraging residents to reduce individual energy use

Community Plan and Council report

 

Corporate Climate Change Action Plan Summary

Target: 20% below 1990 levels by 2010

Approved by Council: December 2003

Priority areas:

1. Energy efficient retro-fits for facilities
2. Green design for new and replacement civic buildings
3. Efficient driver training and anti-idling
4. Fuel-efficient fleets and fleet management
5. Energy efficient street/park lighting and traffic control signals
6. Corporate waste reduction and landfill gas utilization

Corporate Climate Change Action Plan and Council report

Corporate Climate Change Action Plan 2004 Annual Report

Climate Protection Progress Report, August 2007.