Vancouver: One of the World's Greenest Cities?

One of Canada's largest and most diverse cities, Vancouver has long been known as a thriving urban center. One that has found a balance between metropolis and nature - a true urban oasis.

Vancouver is located in British Columbia between the Canadian Rockies and the Pacific Coast, boasting both beautiful mountain and coastal scenery. This idyllic landscape sets a perfect stage; bridging skyscrapers, green urban spaces, and vibrant and relaxed neighborhoods.

It's no doubt that Vancouver is one of Canada's most beautiful cities. For years many have considered it one of the best places to live and vacation. Its mild climate suits all seasons, has a world-class dining scene, vibrant neighborhoods, and world-class cultural attractions. Also, did you know its goal is to be the Greenest City in the world?

The Greenest City Action Plan

Longing for a forward-thinking and environmentally-conscious urban center, in 2011, Vancouver adopted a city action plan to be the greenest city in the world by 2020. According to the Vancouver Economic Commission, The Greenest City 2020 Action Plan (GCAP) hopes to get Vancouver ready for any impact climate change might have by encouraging a green economy and a healthy city." 

For years, the city's urban planning policies have centered around the concept of eco-density, prioritizing building vertically, such as in skyscrapers - as opposed to urban sprawl. These policies have also deepened the city's efforts towards green building, renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable mass transportation, and other alternate options for people to travel around the city.

The 2001 initiative outlines several goals that span both environmental and social issues, all with the end goal to bridge objectives to reach the highest levels of zero carbon, zero waste, and healthy ecosystems.

A Local Dialogue

With over 600,000 residents living in the Vancouver metropolitan area, city officials have known that opening up a social dialogue is essential to reaching the plan's objectives. To get Vancouverites on-board by introducing locally-targeted initiatives from building codes to water systems. 

One of the primary key strategies is to put in place renewable energy systems that have greatly improved efficiency for heating and hot water, making the city greener neighborhood by neighborhood.

Inspired by programs centered on transportation, food, and waste management, Vancouver residents have pitched in as well. More than 50% of local transit is now managed via public systems, by bike or on foot, utilizing the many trails traversing the city. Recycling and trash management initiatives have also seen great success. 

Increasingly more and more people are moving to Vancouver, a melting-pot with residents from all corners of the world. The city has also enacted conservation programs like Empower Me targeting ethnic and immigrant communities, to help address any socioeconomic or cultural issues in green living. Through these programs, all neighborhoods and demographics can enjoy the benefits of the city's plan.

Thriving Ecotourism

And while all this might make us all want to move to Canada and find a Vancouver home, these initiatives have done more than affect local habits. Ecotourism initiatives have also affected more than 10 million tourists who visit Vancouver each year.  

Residents and visitors alike can access many of the city's attractions by public transportation or via the 450 km of bike lanes throughout the city.  In fact, bike-sharing company Mobi attracted more than 400,000 users in its first year, with many city visitors curious to safely explore the area.

Next: A New Decade

With 2020 just around the corner, it's clear that Vancouver still has a bit to go in meeting its goals to be the world's Greenest City. But it sets a shining example of how cities across the world can start to move in the right direction.