GC 2020
657 results found
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Restore nature in Stanley Park by banning cars
Ban private vehicles altogether - a public streetcar circling the park is all that's necessary. Work towards removal of Stanley Park Causeway altogether, providing an alternate crossing of the inlet. Every major remaining urban forest in BC has a highway running through it (e.g. Goldstream, Cathedral Grove). What message does that send out, I wonder?
13 votes -
Invent roofs with adjustable reflection coefficient
Expanding on the suggestion by Hashem Akbari's to combat climate change by painting all roofs and paved surfaces in the USA white, our idea is to develop roof materials that can change their reflection coefficient by changing their colour to cover a range from black to white. Regions like Vancouver, with warm summers and cold winters, should have white roofs in the summer and black roofs in the winter, to minimize air conditioning and heating energy needs throughout the year. Roofs with adjustable reflection coefficient could be "dimmed" from inside a house as simply as a light. Smart house technology…
6 votesCurrently exploring an approach to addressing cool roofs, green roofs & walls.
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improve solar access for food growing
Access to sufficient solar exposure is often the most challenging impediment to food production on an urban site. Trees and buildings can create shade in spots that would otherwise be ideal for growing food - the ones just outside the kitchen or front door.
As counter-intuitive as this may seem, the city's plan to plant massive amounts of trees for carbon sequestration will probably interfere with many existing food gardens, and many more trees that are nearing the end their life-span could be removed to create room for food production. An exemption favouring food gardens could be made within the…
9 votesSolar access is always a consideration when we search for local food growing opportunities, community garden space, etc.
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Municipal GRANTS for businesses who build shower, changeroom, and bike lockers
Through a municipal grant program, encourage businesses to build showers, changerooms, and bike lockers for employees who commute via active transportations. Grants could also be applied for expansions of existing facilities. Also, encourage businesses to partner and share facilities.
6 votes -
No Concrete Medians
Instead, use flowering or green plants... it is beautiful and can contribute to cleaner air that we breathe
7 votes -
Bring Life to our Rooftops
The roofs of Vancouver are an un-tapped resource from both a social and biodiversity perspective. The City could initiate a program to encourage the conversion of existing flat, inaccessible roofs to useable, productive greenspace. This could include omitting rooftop access points (stairs & elevators) from height restrictions, providing tax breaks to buildings that eliminate rainwater runoff to the sewer system, or establishing financing mechanisms and consultation to support stratas and individuals undertaking renovations.
The scale of conversion could range from installing standard green-roof systems to rooftop decks with planter boxes to full scale rooftop agriculture. This would help bring back…
148 votesCurrently exploring an approach to addressing cool roofs, green roofs & walls.
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Encourage vegan options for all!
A global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty and the ***** impacts of climate change, says the report from United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) international panel of sustainable resource management.
1,073 votesLow footprint food choices are not the same as vegan food choices in all cases, the analysis is more complex than this. Generally a low footprint diet is local, seasonal food, and limits consumption of red meat, dairy, and some grains. Low footprint food choices are included in the draft Greenest City Action Plan and will be discussed through community engagement activities.
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Creating more municipially based arts grants and funding.
Creating a socially sustainable community is as integral as an environmentally sustainable one. With provincial arts funding reaching a record low, the climate for local artists is dyer. Creating municipal grants will provoke creativity, inspire change, create a healthy living environment and entice the provincial/federal government to respond to the needs of its' people.
6 votes -
cut expenses, pay off debt, focus remaining resources on increased resilience
We are heading into a severe worldwide economic depression. The root cause of this depression is that we have been living beyond our means and have built up more debt than can be repaid. The coming depression will be much worse than the 1930's because the debt levels today are much higher. Furthermore, we can expect the depression to be permanent because oil production has already peaked and will begin to decline in less than 5 years. This means that no further economic growth is possible and the economy will contract for many decades.
The implications for the City of…
3 votes -
Small Businesses
Need incentives to recycle, or reuse materials (between business and or/ public) through soemthing like a local online materials reuse/exchange database (similar to Free stuff on craigslist)
6 votes -
Get rid of the chlorine in our swimming pools and water supply. even the new 2010 pool has chlorine
get rid of the chlorine in our swimming pools and water supply. even the new pool by the nat bailey stadium has chlorine, even though the 2010 olympic buildings, of which this was a part, were supposed to be green. chlorine is NOT green.
12 votes -
Indoor farmer's markets and community garden spaces for winter months.
Create indoor farmer's markets and community garden spaces for winter months in order to support healthy eco-living and eating.
94 votesCouncil has worked with Farmers Market Society to locate a new winter market site at Nat Bailey Stadium. Garden sites an interesting idea, but would need more study.
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Energy Descent Plan
Chair a city-wide committee to create a Vancouver Energy Descent Plan in order to develop a coordinated plan to reduce city-wide energy use by 2020.
10 votes -
4 votes
This idea is addressed in Community, Central Area, and City-Wide planning initiatives, with the understanding that fostering neighbourhood businesses requires collaboration of many different groups, public agencies, and neighbourhood residents
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'Pedestrianize' Robson St. permanently (no cars) - or at least do a 6 month trial
Studies show that commercial streets (full of shops, cafes and restaurants) that have been converted into foot or bicycle traffic only, have dramatic increases in public activity and economic growth.
Do you know any other streets that would benefit from this? Leave your comment below!
52 votesThe draft Greenest City plan will include directions to explore pedestrian-only and pedestrian-priority streets in the downtown core. Potential locations will be identified at a later date (e.g. as part of the transportation plan update).
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Organic, Fair Trade and Low carbon agricultural products
Promotion of Fair Trade, organic and low carbon imports. Why not take social and environmental responsibility for your consumption? People will always want an avocado, mango, a cup of coffee or tea on their tables. There are agricultural products that can not been grown locally, so why not import them but making sure they are low carbon, and that they are not harming our planet and its producers?
100 votesThe City has a procurement policy covering our own procurement choices that includes many of these issues; it is now being implemented throughout City operations. http://vancouver.ca/policy_pdf/AF01401.pdf
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Let's be tolerant
I think "going green" necessitates a healthy level of tolerance by everyone.
Tolerance will not pit cyclists against car drivers, but will allow each their own choice while working towards the goal that is best for everyone. Tolerance will recognize different viewpoints with an understanding that others views are as important as your own.
Intolerance alienates others and if we continue to do this, our green objectives will never be met.
Let's work together!
6 votes -
Carbon Tax
Impose a carbon tax on parking and building permits to fund new green infrastructure investments or pilot projects. Taxes are never popular but they are one way of curbing consumption and providing ongoing funding. Property taxes are already high and the City has very limited scope to tax consumption. Parking and building permits are one avenue they can tax.
10 votes -
Green Events Guide for all city and community events
Many cities have green guides for all events that take place within their boundaries. Some have embedded it into policy and groups running events must abide by the city requirements. Let's follow suit and get to zero waste.
1 voteHave a look at the City’s One Day calendar.
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Treat our land and resources as sacred
Include First Nations and/or elders on ways to respect our land and resources that make them sacred. Defining a culture that connects our past to the present.
15 votes
