February 2023

Today, City Council will receive an update on our current climate action plans, the Climate Emergency Action Plan and Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, and will be asked to endorse a Climate Justice Charter for Vancouver, which explores ways to hold the City accountable to embedding equity into the development and implementation of climate policies.

The CEAP annual update highlights successes and challenges of advancing climate action over the past year, as well as key policy decisions ahead. The following are some of 2022 successes from CEA:

• The City built infrastructure to support active transportation – adding 22km of all ages and abilities bikeways, bringing the total cycling network to 331km in addition to new and upgraded sidewalks and curb ramps. 
• To support electric vehicle uptake the City installed four new DC fast-chargers (putting everyone within a 10-minute drive of one), and 12 level 2 connections. To further grow the publicly accessible network, new regulations will expand charging at gas stations and parking lots from 2025 onwards. 
• Vancouver adopted the first regulations in Canada to limit carbon emissions from large existing buildings and the first whole-building embodied carbon code requirements in North America.

The annual update also includes the likelihood of reaching each of the six “Big Move” targets identified in CEAP. While we are currently not on track to reach our targets, upcoming policy decisions can help us shrink the gap to our goal of cutting Vancouver’s carbon pollution in half by 2030.

YOUR TURN

Find out more by reading the CEAP update and Climate Justice Charter for Vancouver here. 

You can help Vancouver get on track by sharing your voice during climate-related public engagement processes and taking individual climate action. Visit our revised webpages to find rebates, programs and other resources to help you take action here.

SUPPORTING: ADAPTATION, CLIMATE EMERGENCY

As Vancouver grows and evolves, we need to ensure that there are housing options that meet the needs of the diverse households that live and work here. To increase the amount of family housing, and advance our climate objectives, City staff are exploring ways to allow up to six homes on a lot, through housing options called “multiplexes”, a form of missing middle housing.

Making it possible to build more homes on a single lot means that more people, including families with children, can live in close proximity to existing schools, shops and services. Adding these new housing options in low density areas will support our Climate Emergency Action Plan and Vancouver Plan directions to create more complete, connected neighbourhoods. It’s also an opportunity to build more energy efficient housing.

YOUR TURN

The first round of public engagement to add missing middle housing options and simplify regulations in low density areas is current underway. 

There are lots of ways to learn and share your thoughts about the proposed changes:

• Take our Community Survey
• Attend an open house
• Watch the Council presentation held on January 18

Did you know that in a typical home, water heating is the second highest energy use, while space heating is the first? If water heating is provided by natural gas (a fossil fuel), it can create one tonne of carbon pollution annually. Making the switch to all-electric water heating in your home is good for the planet and your wallet. 

The City of Vancouver is seeking participants for a research project about households undertaking this type of home upgrade. Participants will receive an honorarium to share information which may inform future program development or supportive policy changes. 

Burning natural gas in buildings is the largest source of carbon pollution in Vancouver, and tackling these emissions is a key opportunity for climate action.

YOUR TURN 
 
Submit your application to the NearZero Domestic Hot Water program here. Only 20 homes will be selected. 
 
Want to learn more? Read all about the benefits of making the switch to all-electric water heating here.

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE EMERGENCY

Vancouver’s natural water cycle has been disrupted over the last 100 years by our built sewers and drainage systems, causing long-term environmental impacts, loss of safe access to our ocean and river following rain events and impacts to the food fisheries and cultural practices of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

On February 1, City Council approved the guiding principles and goals of the Healthy Waters Plan for Vancouver. The plan will cost-effectively tackle pollution from combined sewer overflows and rainwater runoff, renew aging infrastructure, enable housing and growth and respond to climate change through green rainwater infrastructure.

As the impacts of climate change accelerate, extreme rainfall events will become more common. The Healthy Waters Plan supports our Climate Change Adaptation Strategy by creating a city that is more resilient to these changes. The Plan will also help us deliver on the Vancouver Plan, and advance commitments in the UNDRIP Strategy and the Rain City Strategy.

YOUR TURN

Learn more about the Healthy Waters Plan here.
There are many easy ways you can help steward our drainage systems and water quality in Vancouver:

• Learn what’s safe for our drainage system
• Host a neighbourhood clean-up party to keep garbage from washing into waterway
• Adopt (and name!) your own catch basin

SUPPORTING: ADAPTATION, RAIN CITY STRATEGY, VANCOUVER PLAN