Mayor Gregor Robertson campaigned on the promise to make Vancouver the greenest city in the world. Today, the task force charged with plotting that green goal -- the Greenest City Action Team -- released a list of policy recommendations and actions the city could adopt immediately.
The 72-page report, Greenest City Quick Start Recommendations, is focused on creating a green economy in the city. Among those recommendations:
Conduct a bylaw review to address obstacles to green technologies like green roofs, rainwater harvesting, greywater use and composting toilets.
Partner with community groups, vocational training programs and unions to create a green jobs pilot project. Focus on "green pathways out of poverty:" training unemployed people on projects like tree planting or electronics refurbishment.
Install a solar thermal hot water system at Brockton Oval in Stanley Park, and start a solar thermal hot water pilot project for residential buildings.
Identify areas where district heating could work (such as the Women's and Children's Hospital).
The report also included recommendations for improving human health and greening communities:
Create a public bike-sharing program, and provide free parking and charging for electric scooters and vehicles.
Implement a city-wide composting program (the most frequent citizen suggestions to the Greenest City Action Team).
Urge Metro Vancouver and the provincial government to accelerate upgrade scheduler to Iona and Lions Gate waste treatment plants.
Establish long-term licenses for existing farmers' markets.
The action team will deliver a more comprehensive 10-year plan later this year, including benchmarks to monitor Vancouver's progress.
Colleen Kimmett reports for The Hook.
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freebear
2 years ago
Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!
All of the provided policy examples are old news.
More greenwash?
An economic depression will be more green than current weak actions.
Why bother Vancouver, the Carbon Tax is the saviour according to Suzuki!!!!!
Frank
2 years ago
Doubling the chocolate ration
We've been told over and over that the carbon tax is the greatest policy ever. its so good that people will switch parties over it. So with the re-election of the Liberals it is obvious that we can abolish the ministry of the environment and all those silly "foundations" like David Suzuki's.
electric_bicyclist
2 years ago
How about Tap Water Scooter, too?
There aren't a lot of electric vehicles around, and an owner of two Zenn electric cars alleged (by phone call to me) that they only got 3,000 miles from a set of batteries on their Zenns. So, on a per-mile basis, the battery replacement cost for a Zenn could be $1 per mile -- more costly than gasoline; unless, these Zenn owners can use cost-free "revived batteries" for the electric vehicles, in which case the replacement batteries would be nearly free.
What about adding water-powered vehicles, like the Tap Water Scooter?
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x91m6v_mayor-this-is-really-exciting-tap-w_webcam