GCT Featured Articles
Austin, Texas: a sustainable city
By Daniel 2022/01Oslo, Norway – Europe’s Eco-capital
By Daniel 2022/01Sustainable city: CHICAGO
By Daniel 2022/01The Global Fight Against Climate Change; NDCs and Net Zero Targets Worldwide
By Daniel 2021/12California – Current Progress of a Climate Champion
By Daniel 2021/12GREENEST City Action Team
GCAT
In 2007, the Vancouver City Council proposed and adopted climate protection goals to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 33% from 2007 levels by 2020. Vancouver formed the Greenest City Action Team (GCAT), and developed the Greenest City Action Plan in 2009, to achieve zero waste, zero carbon, and healthy ecosystems for Vancouver, in order to make Vancouver into "the greenest city in the world".
*** 2020 update to the Greenest City Action Plan is given here by Brad Badelt, assistant director of sustainability for the city>>>
Vancouver did not meet all its targets; being the greenest city was "really an aspirational goal."
One aspiration was to reduce carbon emissions in the city by 33 per cent below 2007 levels. According to Badelt, "We've seen them drop by about 12 per cent to date," said Badelt on The Early Edition Friday. "We had success, but it certainly needs to ramp up dramatically and that's partly why we declared a climate emergency last year."
Badelt said the city has reduced people's dependency on cars. He said Vancouver is a leading North American city for the number of people walking, biking and using public transit; and said the coming Broadway subway line will further help.
And in terms of green space and wildlife, Badelt said Vancouver consistently ranks among the top environmental cities in the world and has increased its number of community gardens in recent years.
Badelt said the city is also doing well at constructing low-emission buildings, noting the average emission for a new building is about half what it was a decade ago.
"We're on track by 2025 to have essentially zero emissions new buildings in the city," said Badelt. FROM - cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver
The specific goals for the GCAT had been:
- by 2020, create 20,000 new green jobs and become an international center for green business
- by 2020, reduce GHG emissions by 33% compared to 2007 levels, and become a leading city in fighting climate change
- by 2020, eliminate the need for fossil fuel energy in Vancouver, and reduce the demand for energy (over 90% of the city’s energy already is renewable energy, mostly hydroelectricity)
- by 2020, all new industrial/ municipal construction to be carbon-neutral, improve efficiency of existing buildings by 20%
- by 2020, over 50% of commutes by walking, biking, or public transport
- by 2020, reduce waste heading to landfills or incinerator by 40%
- by 2020, plant an additional 150,000 trees, and expand parks/ greenbelts so that every resident lives within 5 minutes of a beach, park, greenbelt, or other green, open space
- by 2020, reduce per-capita ecological footprint by 33%
- by 2020, beat WHO's (World Health Organization) drinking water standards
- by 2020, beat WHO's clean air standards
- by 2020, reduce the carbon footprint of food production in Vancouver by 33% - focus on organic, local food products
Although the majority of power supplied to Vancouver is from hydroelectricity, wind and solar farms also are energy sources to be used in the plan - through clean energy, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 1/3 by 2020. The priorities for implementing what is termed as “quick start actions” (initial actions to ensure Vancouver reaches the “greenest city” goal) are to reduce fossil fuel dependency and to create green jobs. Vancouver’s GHG targets are to get to 33% below 2007 by 2020 and 80% below 1990 by 2050. GCAT has begun to create its Green Economic Development Strategy (GEDS), implement a green jobs pilot project, and is receiving funding from the federal government and provincial governments for the new green economy.
GCAT is planning comprehensive strategies to help increase the use of public transport, cycling, and walking. GCAT aims to make the streets safer for cycling and pedestrians as well as creating a public bike-sharing system. Vancouver metro's mass transit network, TransLink, has a 10-year plan which will help ensure GCAT meets its GHG reduction and increased public transportation goals. The TransLink system includes the bus system, SkyTrain and other light rail commuter trains, heavy rail, the SeaBus, and a connected network of roads, cycling, and pedestrian paths. Modes of sustainable mass transit in Vancouver include:
- Trolleybuses serve the downtown area with zero-emission buses
- SkyTrain – world’s longest automated light rapid transit system
- West Coast Express – heavy commuter train
- SeaBus – passenger-only ferry connecting downtown Vancouver and North Vancouver
- Cycling – over 400 km of bike routes
For more information on the details of Vancouver GCAT's plan, see: https://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver/greenest-city-action-plan.aspx
Please also see:
Vancouver: Alternative Transit Capital of North America
GCT Featured Articles
The Role of E-mobility Trends in Decarbonizing Transport
Decarbonizing the Transportation Sector with E-mobility | It's no secret that transportation is a major source of...
Read Post5 Ways Cities Can Handle Waste More Sustainably
5 Ways for Cities to Implement Sustainable Waste Management | Article by Jane Marsh | Global and national policies...
Read Post10 Ways Smart Cities Improve Worker Safety
10 IoT Technologies for Sustainable Smart Cities | by Jane Marsh | As the conversation around greenhouse gas...
Read Post10 Sustainable Technologies Improving Air Quality in Cities
GREEN Tech for Healthy Air | Article by Jane Marsh | Cities are the heart of every global region. They are headquarters...
Read PostVauban in Freiburg, Germany
Vauban is an exemplary sustainable town, the greenest town in Europe. A “zero-emission” district in Freiburg, Germany,...
Read Post5 categories of change in climate
Climate change is adversely affecting all parts of the earth. There have been dramatic increases in greenhouse gas emissions...
Read PostProfiles in Sustainable Cities – San Diego, California
Sustainable cities, like San Diego, have eco-city designs that prioritize consideration of social, economic, and environmental...
Read PostAustin, Texas: a sustainable city
Eco-friendly Capital | Austin is widely recognized as a top eco-friendly city, especially in the United States. In...
Read PostOslo, Norway – Europe’s Eco-capital
Oslo: Net Zero Future | Oslo, Norway has fleets of green mass public transit - trams, electric buses, and ferries...
Read PostSustainable city: CHICAGO
Chicago might not be widely known as a green city, however, the city has a Sustainable Action Agenda, a vast network...
Read PostThe Global Fight Against Climate Change; NDCs and Net Zero Targets Worldwide
Nationally Determined Contributions | As part of the ongoing global battle against climate change, almost 200 countries...
Read PostCalifornia – Current Progress of a Climate Champion
Learning From California's Struggle to Balance Decarbonization With Energy Resilience | Since California passed the...
Read PostSustainable Energy Infrastructure
Updating Infrastructure for Developing Renewable Energy in Cities | People-centered smart cities are cropping up worldwide....
Read PostClimate Solution- Sustainable Ag.
Benefits of Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable agriculture turns farms into thriving ecological lands that produce...
Read PostThe future generation of batteries
Advanced li-ion batteries | Next-generation lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries are being developed, and varieties are...
Read PostClean Hydrogen Power
Hydrogen and the Clean Energy Transition | Hydrogen is one of the most promising emerging energy technologies to fill...
Read PostNuclear – necessary energy
Both nuclear and renewable energy are needed in the global energy mix to help fight climate change. In order to cut...
Read Post10 Ways to Reduce Food Waste
As the climate changes, global ecosystems experience debilitating effects. Resource depletion degrades the security...
Read PostCOP21 – good news for the planet
NDCs and Net Zero Pledges | At COP21, commonly referred to as the Paris Climate Accord, nations sent representatives...
Read PostHow Safe & Clean is Nuclear ☢️ Energy?
When looking at climate solutions for clean energy generation, it is prudent to look at all clean energy sources. Nuclear...
Read PostRenewable Energy Jobs are UP, and RE cost is down
Employment in the clean energy sector features, first and foremost, jobs in energy efficiency (of the over 3 million...
Read PostReforestation
Deforestation and solutions; including reforestation Deforestation of our planet, for centuries, has led to issues such...
Read PostRegenerative Agriculture
The United Nations (UN) has advised that a global shift towards plant-based food will counteract the worst effects of...
Read PostUsing Technology to Provide Clean Water to Cities
How Technology Can Help Cities Avoid Another Flint Water Crisis | Article by Jane Marsh | The green movement is influencing...
Read PostKamuthi Solar Project; and the largest solar PV farms in India, China, and other countries
Featuring over 2.5 million individual solar PV modules, and on 2,500 acres, in the town of Kamuthi in the Ramanathapuram...
Read PostPermanent ban on new coal mines and other sustainability priorities
Strategies for mitigating climate change | What are the best strategies for mitigating global warming? How is the...
Read PostRenewable Energy – Breakthroughs in Wind Energy
Onshore Wind Farms - Cheap and Clean Energy | Onshore wind farms now provide the least expensive form of energy, renewable...
Read PostShortfall in International GHG Reduction Pledges
Is the World Going to Meet its Climate Targets? There is a substantial shortfall between GHG emission reduction pledges...
Read PostBreakthroughs in Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and Solar Thermal Technology
Solar - the most abundant renewable energy on the planet | Recently there have been dramatic breakthroughs in solar...
Read PostEconomy vs. the Environment
Economic growth does not have to come at the expense of the environment. Sustainable technologies (such as renewable...
Read PostPlan for Smart Meter Deployment in all 50 States
Modern SMART Meters | Many buildings in America today still rely on inefficient energy infrastructure, such as older...
Read PostDesalination- Clean Water for a Thirsty World
Carlsbad, California desalination plant | The Sorek desalination plant in Tel Aviv, Israel | The two desalination plants...
Read Post10 Countries Promoting the use of EVs
Why Is There A Need For EVs Globally? In its World Energy Outlook, the International Energy Agency identifies pathways...
Read PostMicrogrids spread across Africa
Developing Microgrids Communities see tremendous benefits from microgrids, especially in developing countries and developing...
Read PostEVs to be the main car on the world’s roads
EV mandates In the near future, there will be laws implemented mandating sales of electric vehicles (EVs), and the phase-out...
Read PostPutting a Price on Carbon
Carbon Markets | Carbon cap and trade systems are regulatory policies in which countries, provinces, states, and even...
Read PostA Close Look at San Diego’s HERO Program
San Diego, Green Buildings, HERO Program The importance of green energy for use in homes and businesses is becoming...
Read PostRecycling – how we are doing as a global community; waste-to-energy
Effective waste management strategies for cities include citywide recycling programs, circular economy strategies, as...
Read PostRide-sharing our way to saving the planet
Sustainable Commuting | Carsharing (a.k.a. ride-sharing) services provide an opportunity to reduce emissions from...
Read PostThe UNFCCC
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – Conference of the Parties | World leaders, dignitaries,...
Read PostCarbon tax – a levy on pollution whose time has come
Defining effective carbon taxes | A carbon tax is a levy in countries and regions on: fossil fuel power plants, oil...
Read Post12 Ways You Can Help the Environment
It’s not hard to lower your carbon footprint, combat climate change, and help the environment. By doing just a few...
Read PostImproving energy efficiency
Energy Efficiency Foundations for Green Building: Energy Star, LED and CFL Lights, LEED technologies When it comes to...
Read PostDecoupling and Divestment to Reach Sustainability
Decoupling Decoupling in eco-environmental terms can be defined as a striving for economic growth without creating corresponding...
Read Post