JULY 2023

In the summers of 2021 and 2022, the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Coastal Health conducted a self-reported survey of indoor temperatures. With support from the BC Centre for Disease Control, we received nearly 6,000 survey responses over two years! Here are some of the key findings:  

• Residents use a wide range of cooling techniques but still experience heat impacts in their daily lives and find it important to access cooling outside of the home. 
• There are many barriers to staying safe and cool during periods of hot weather, both inside and outside of the home. 
• There is growing concern about the impact of climate change and these feelings are elevated during periods of extreme heat. 

This summer, we are re-launching the survey to further our understanding of the relationship between indoor and outdoor temperatures and how building characteristics, such as a building’s age, size and composition, impact residents. This data will help inform recommendations to achieve cooler temperatures inside existing buildings and help prevent heat illness, in support of our Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.
 
YOUR TURN

You can help by sharing the temperature inside your home during periods of hot weather:

• Complete the 2023 Measuring Indoor Temperature Survey between July 10 and September 10, which is available in six languages.
• Learn how we are helping residents stay safe during hot weather events.
• Read about the grant Vancouver received to improve extreme heat supports for persons with disabilities as part of C40’s Inclusive Climate Action Cities Fund.

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE EMERGENCY, CLIMATE ADAPTATION

The City of Vancouver just wrapped up its third year of the School Streets Program. A School Street is a car-free block outside a school during drop-off and pick-up with the intention of helping students reimagine different uses for public space, improving safety and encouraging active travel. This year, seven schools participated.
 
We recently released a video showing how School Street transformed drop-off and pick-up at Churchill Secondary, one of the participating schools. 
 
Almost 40% of carbon pollution in Vancouver comes from burning fossil fuels like gas and diesel in our vehicles. Encouraging active travel to school supports our Climate Emergency Action Plan objective of ensuring two thirds of trips in Vancouver are by active transportation and transit, and it helps towards our goal of cutting carbon pollution in half by 2030.
 
YOUR TURN

• Watch the School Streets video of Churchill Secondary.
• Stay tuned for our program report, available this summer at vancouver.ca/School-Streets
• Parents and teachers interested in having your school participate next year can contact SchoolActiveTravel@vancouver.ca. 

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE EMERGENCY

The City of Vancouver has launched a pilot program to future-proof market rental buildings, making them more resilient to the impacts of climate change, while improving energy efficiency, increasing indoor comfort and decreasing carbon pollution with minimal impacts to tenants. 
 
Funded in partnership with CleanBC and BC Hydro, and administered by LandlordBC, the Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator program has $3.5 million in grant funds available for market rental buildings to undertake critical energy retrofit upgrades, such as building electrification and fuel-switching using new heat pump technology.
 
Findings from the pilot project will inform future investment in Vancouver’s existing rental stock while maintaining stable tenancies - great news for both renters and landlords. This work also supports our Climate Emergency Action Plan target of reducing carbon pollution in buildings, which accounts for over half of the carbon pollution generated in Vancouver. It also supports our Climate Change Adaptation Strategy by improving building resilience to extreme weather.
 
YOUR TURN

• Building owners with market rental apartments are eligible to apply by July 30.
• Learn more about energy resources and programs for existing multi-family buildings.

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE EMERGENCY, CLIMATE ADAPTATION

From August 22-24, the Seventh Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly will gather in Vancouver.
 
The Assembly will include roundtable discussions, plenary sessions, events, field visits and learning opportunities over the course of three days. Ministers, government officials, business leaders, prominent environmentalists, leaders of GEF agencies and environmental conventions, as well as youth, civil society representatives and Indigenous Peoples will have an opportunity to discuss solutions under the overarching theme of "Healthy Planet, Healthy People."
 
The United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada) is excited to announce the launch of the Youth Volunteer Program at this year’s Assembly, where youth will have the opportunity to support delegates and learn about the global multilateral decision-making processes at GEF.
 
YOUR TURN

• UNA-Canada is looking for 70 to 90 youth volunteers to participate in the program. Youth 15 years of age or older may apply to volunteer for this incredible opportunity until August 14.
• Curious about the Assembly? Livestream the events on August 22-24.

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE EMERGENCY, CLIMATE ADAPTATION