VANCOUVER, CANADA Green by nature and green by virtue, Vancouver is a metropolis in the middle of a rainforest.
C40 : Yes GDS Index : Not yet
We have a reputation for leading the way in green building, planning, and technology - andwe’ve still got big plans.
Sustainability strategy : Greenest City Action Plan
The Canadian city already has the lowest per- capita greenhouse gas emissions of any major city in North America and runs on 90 per cent renewable energy provided by its large supply of hydroelectricity. To reach its target of becoming the ‘greenest city in the world’, Vancouver has pledged 100 per cent renewable energy for its production and consumption needs. Part of the plan to achieve a completely green economy is expanding its transportation network which now includes buses, rail, the SkyTrain, commuter shuttles and SeaBus. In addition, cyclists and pedestrians have priority with city wide programmes that maintain natural beauty and green spaces along cycle and walking paths. Urban planning plays a big role in Vancouver’s green future with initiatives to only build upwards, not outwards and retrofitting buildings to make them more energy efficient.
“As the birthplace of Greenpeace and on track to being Canada’s greenest city, we have a reputation for leading the way in green building, planning and technology, with the smallest per capita carbon footprint in North America. And while that makes us proud, we’ve still got big plans – like aiming to reduce emissions by 80 per cent and be 100 per cent powered by renewable energy by 2050,” explains Michael Drake Tourism Vancouver director of sales, meetings & conventions, Canada-International. Vancouver’s flagship venue, the Vancouver ConventionCentre(VCC)isflyingthesustainability flag high. The LEED Platinum-certified VCC has
an on-site wastewater treatment plant and 400,000 indigenous plants on the green roof. It has also been certified as a ‘healthy venue’ by the World Obesity Federation for its encouragement to get delegates travelling by foot. In Vancouver, giving back to residents is as important as not destroying the Earth, evident at the VCC with its ‘Binner’ programme. To bolster the venue’s recycling efforts, members of society who previously had to find food in bins have been employed by the centre, given T-shirts and badges, and tasked with ensuring recycling is properly sorted.
Vancouver
24 APRIL 2021 AMIMAGAZINE.GLOBAL
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