IN THIS ISSUE

Vancouver’s urban forest adds beauty and greenspace to our city, and serves as a natural climate solution to capture carbon pollution from the atmosphere. Responding to the climate crisis also means being prepared for its effects, particularly in neighbourhoods and communities in Vancouver that are more vulnerable than others. Expanding our urban forest canopy is one of our key climate adaptation tools as it reduces heat island effect during heat events and moderates temperatures during extreme cold.  

Every year, between October and March, the Urban Forestry team plants trees along streets, and in boulevards and parks, focusing on canopy-deficient areas in the downtown, south and east areas of the city. Creating tree pits for new trees in an urban environment presents many challenges, such as interference with underground and overhead infrastructure and competing demands for limited space. Replacing old trees requires extracting residual tree stumps that are often difficult to access. 

The City’s Engineering department, the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and the development community work together to navigate these challenges and ensure trees are considered an integral part of the city’s urban infrastructure. 

YOUR TURN

Our urban forest includes every tree in the city, from parks to streets to backyards. Learn more about the street trees in your neighbourhood with our interactive map. Want to get your hands dirty? Find upcoming opportunities to steward and support our urban forests, like Everett Crowley Park and Stanley Park, in our events section!

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE EMERGENCY, ADAPTATION, URBAN FOREST STRATEGY

New zero emissions buses are coming to Vancouver! 15 new battery-electric buses will be added to TransLink’s fleet over the coming year, bringing the total number of battery-electric buses to 19. Each bus is expected to reduce 70 tonnes of carbon pollution and save $40,000 in fuel costs annually, compared to a conventional diesel bus. The new buses are rolling into service on Route 100, which travels west-east along Marine Drive.

The buses are an important step towards achieving TransLink’s sustainability goals, which include:

• Reducing carbon pollution by 45% by 2030
• Transitioning to a bus fleet operating entirely on renewable energy by 2040
• Becoming a net zero organization in all operations by 2050

In addition to reducing carbon pollution, the new battery-electric buses will provide other benefits, like cleaner air and quieter streets along the route. Taking transit is already a climate-friendly alternative to driving a personal vehicle, and TransLink’s low carbon commitments accelerate Vancouver’s efforts to cut our carbon pollution in half by 2030.

YOUR TURN

Plan your next ride with the TransLink Trip Planner. Travelling with someone under the age of 12? They can ride for free.

Want more? Learn about TransLink’s three year Climate Action Plan, which supports their long-term Climate Action Strategy goal to become a climate resilient and net-zero transit system by 2050.

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE EMERGENCY

Did you know that each year, 89 million plastic shopping bags and 4 million paper shopping bags end up in the garbage in Vancouver? In order to reach our target of becoming a zero waste city by 2040, the City is taking steps to reduce waste from single-use items. 
 
On January 1, 2022, the City of Vancouver banned plastic shopping bags and required businesses to charge fees on paper and new reusable shopping bags. As of January 1, 2023, the minimum fees are $0.25 for paper bags and $2.00 for new reusable bags. Council approved these bag fees in 2019 to support behaviour change and be consistent with other BC municipalities, Metro Vancouver and provincial regulations. 

Paper and reusable bags have significant environmental impacts, so it is important to reduce their numbers, as well. 

YOUR TURN
 
Still getting used to bringing your own bag? Here are some tips:

• Keep bags in your backpack, pannier, bike basket or vehicle
• At home, store your bags near where you keep your keys and wallet
• If you have extra bags, drop them off at the Zero Waste Centre -  we’ll clean and distribute them to those in need

SUPPORTING: ZERO WASTE