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City of Vancouver

Greenest City Newsletter

November 15, 2025
A person jogging with their hand outstretched, and another person jogging with their dog along the seawall at high tide. Water from the waves splashes towards the joggers. A blue text box below reads:
IN THIS ISSUE

NOTEWORTHY

🌡️C40 Accelerators: Vancouver has joined two global initiatives led by C40 Cities, alongside other signatory cities. The Cool Cities Accelerator, advances shared commitments to extreme heat resilience. The Urban Planning Accelerator, commits to the transition towards climate-responsive urban planning.

🪙 Vancouver 2026 Budget: The proposed 2026 Budget was shared with Council on November 12. Watch the recording and read the minutes here. If you have feedback on the proposed budget, you can contact Mayor and Council directly before their vote on November 25.
People walking along a tree-lined commercial street with an outdoor flower display.

SHAPE THE FUTURE OF YOUR VILLAGE

Villages are where the vision of complete, connected neighbourhoods comes to life.

The Vancouver Plan identifies multiple future Villages that will grow into vibrant hubs with a range of housing options, essential shops and services and welcoming public spaces within a short walk, ride or roll from work or home. This helps contribute to our Climate Emergency Action Plan goal that 90% of Vancouver residents are able to live within an easy walk or roll within their daily needs by 2030.

Last year, we asked residents, businesses and other community members to tell us what they loved about the Villages, and what would help these areas thrive in the future. That feedback, together with more analysis and technical work, helped create emerging directions and draft land use plans, showing where things like apartment buildings, shops and services could go.

GET INVOLVED
Share your thoughts on how Villages are taking shape! Your feedback will help us develop the draft plan for the future of your neighbourhood.

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE EMERGENCY
On the left: A photo of a toddler with a small trash picker tool and a parent with a rake, standing on the sidewalk to clear leaves in a catch basin. On the right: A photo of young man wearing a cap and reflective vest in a lush rain garden on a rainy day.

SUPPORT LOCAL EFFORTS TO MANAGE RAINFALL

Rainy season in Vancouver is a reminder that climate change is already increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme rainfall events. Climate projections show that by 2050, we’re expecting a 12% increase in average rainfall per year and an average of 86mm of rain in a single extreme rainfall event.

Our Climate Change Adaptation Strategy guides how we prepare for ongoing and future climate hazards like extreme rainfall, including:
  • Improving sewer and drainage systems to better handle heavy rain.
  • Expanding green rainwater infrastructure and using nature to manage rainfall.
  • Encouraging residents to help care for rainwater systems.

GET INVOLVED
You can support our city’s resilience to climate-related extreme rain through these two programs: 

Adopt a Catch Basin: Choose one of 33,000 catch basins in our city and keep it clear of leaves and debris. This helps reduce flooding in our streets and keeps pollutants from flowing into our waterways.
Rainspection Community Science program: Find a rain garden near you and help us measure and report how well it’s collecting, conveying and absorbing rainwater during and after rainfall events.

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE ADAPTATION, RAIN CITY STRATEGY

A young person with gloves, crouching down to the forest floor to plant a sapling tree.

PLANT THE NEW BEACONSFIELD PARK WETLAND

Join Still Moon Arts in welcoming Beaconsfield Park’s new wetland!

This exciting new green rainwater infrastructure site will help manage flooding, clean stormwater runoff and create habitat for local wildlife – all while connecting the community to the Still Creek watershed.

Green spaces like this also help remove carbon pollution from the atmosphere, boost our resilience to increasingly frequent climate change-related extreme rainfall events and increase nature access. Enhancing the park experience also means more opportunities for residents to enjoy and engage with nature right in their neighbourhood.

This work is part of ongoing work to better manage rainwater in the Still Creek watershed to restore natural water cycles, improve water quality and manage flood risks.

GET INVOLVED 
Roll up your sleeves and register to help plant native species at the Beaconsfield Planting Event on November 22.

The event will have live music, snacks and talks from community organizations about climate resilience. If you're curious about wetlands, this is a great chance to meet your neighbours, learn how engineered wetlands work and contribute to the future of Still Creek.

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE ADAPTATIONCLIMATE EMERGENCY, VANPLAY
A quirky simplified graphic of Earth shaped like a heart on a neon yellow background.

JOIN UBC CLIMATE EMERGENCY WEEK

From November 17 to 21, UBC Sustainability Hub is hosting a Climate Emergency Week filled with events and activities to showcase climate action work and climate justice issues. 

In 2019, the City of Vancouver, and cities around the world declared a climate emergency in response to urgent science-based calls to cut carbon emissions and limit global warming. UBC, along with thousands of universities, colleges and technical schools, also joined this this climate action movement. This week of events seeks to convene and energize communities of climate action at UBC and beyond.

GET INVOLVED 
Explore over 30 engaging Climate Emergency Week events, happening November 17 to 21. All are welcome to register for events such as climate research showcases, tours, talks and even a concert! 

Learn how we’re advancing climate action across Vancouver through our Climate Emergency Action Plan.

SUPPORTING: CLIMATE EMERGENCYCLIMATE ADAPTATION 

A group of mallard ducks wading through water. A blue text box below reads
Cornett Road Planting & Mulching Session
📅November 15
Volunteer to help Still Moon Arts Society plant local species like meadow plants, shrubs and grass, at Cornett Road. All tools and gloves will be provided.
📍Natal Street and Cornett Road

Wild and Edible Plants: Talk and Walk
📅November 19
Explore what wild, edible and medicinal plants can teach us about health, medicine making and our connection to the Earth in this nature walk, weather permitting.
📍VPL Kerrisdale Branch
 
Kids on the Move: Advancing Safe Active Travel Webinar
📅November 19
Hear transportation leaders share real-world examples that are successfully shifting transportation behaviors for children and families in this lunch-time webinar hosted by HUB Cycling.
📍Online
 
Personal & Household Preparedness
📅November 27
Learn practical steps to prepare for disasters and emergencies in Vancouver, including climate hazards.
📍Online
 
Youth Skills Cohort: Firekeepers Stories
📅 Apply by November 28
Build community with climate-engaged youth (ages 15-30) in ten weekly skill-building workshops led by Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House. This seasons theme: "firekeepers stories" focuses on connecting with ancestral wisdom, community care and transformative action.
📍 Drive Youth Employment Services
 
Family Forest Field Trip
📅November 29
Come along for a family-friendly nature walk led by Stanley Park Ecology Society and explore the plants, animals and hidden life all around forest ecosystems. Reduced price tickets available.
📍Stanley Park Rose Garden

Climate Café
📅December 5
Join the BC Hub of Seniors to connect with climate-minded individuals on a number of topics and build ideas for better collaboration and empowerment to take climate action.
📍Kitsilano Community Centre
 
Repair Café and Mini Pop-up Recycling
📅December 6
Bring a well-loved computer/laptop, bike, or item to be diagnosed and repaired by local volunteers or recycle it.
📍Douglas Park Community Centre

True or False Creek Walking Game
📅Anytime
Explore the south shore of False Creek with this interactive scavenger hunt to learn about marine biodiversity, history and Indigenous art.
📍Start at Science World or Fishermen’s Wharf to find and scan the QR codes on signage attached to 6 stations.
 
Fall and Winter Cycling
📅Anytime
Tune up your fall and winter cycling knowledge with these five useful cycling tips from HUB Cycling’s blog and watch this free online webinar.

Learn about Vancouver's Climate Plans



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