Green Economy

Our goal: Secure Vancouver’s international reputation as a mecca of green enterprise

Green businesses are more competitive, efficient, and prepared for the future.

Green jobs are growing in Vancouver. Developing our green economy is essential to a healthy and sustainable future.

Read about the:

Progress we've made towards our 2020 target
Actions we will take between now and 2020
Recent successes that have moved us closer to our goals

Our target: Double the number of green jobs over 2010 levels by 2020

Our target: Double the number of companies that are actively engaged in greening their operations over 2011 levels, by 2020

Progress we've made so far

Green Jobs

Greening Businesses

Green Jobs Chart

Hover on data points for more information on that year's performance.
To learn more about this metric, see the 'How We Measure Success' section below.

2015-2020 priority actions

Short-term actions for achieving our goals for 2020.
The Vancouver Economic Commission will soon launch a major program designed to lighten the business community’s footprint. Our city will soon have twice as many green jobs with a reasonably strong economy, a supportive policy environment, and implementation of the Green Jobs Roadmap.
- 9.1 - Launch a clean tech accelerator.
- 9.2 - Grow the Green & Digital Demonstration Program (GDDP).
- 9.3 - Help transform the False Creek Flats into the greenest place to work in the world.
- 9.4 - Develop a strategy and action plan to attract green investment capital.
- 9.5 - Organize and host targeted business trade missions (inbound and outbound) and leverage large conferences and events (local and global) to grow the green economy.
- 9.6 - Develop, launch, and maintain a greening businesses platform.

Our successes

Read about our successes in the 2018-2019 Implementation Guide (2.6 MB)

How we measure success

The metrics for Green Economy rely on periodic studies looking at green jobs and green businesses within Vancouver.
The 2013 Green Jobs Study refined the definition and measurement of "green" jobs due to changes in data available from Statistics Canada. This resulted in a change in the 2010 baseline count. The methods used to get the metrics been reviewed by Ernst & Young, and targets going forward will be based on this recalculated total.
- View the Green Job Report summary
These metrics are maintained by the Vancouver Economic Commission.

Get the latest Greenest City news

Sign up for our Greenest City newsletter, and get news on our progress, programs, and initiatives. You'll also be notified of local sustainability events and volunteer opportunities.

Learn more

Green Economy

Progress we've made so far

2015-2020 priority actions

Our successes

How we measure success

Get the latest Greenest City news