Vancouver city hall is discovering it’s not easy being green.
A Greenest City Action Team report for Thursday’s planning and environment committee meeting recommends softening the goals to become the world’s most sustainable city.
The lofty aspirations from an October 2009 report included creating 20,000 new green jobs by 2020, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by a third, requiring all building construction be carbon-neutral and having the best air quality and drinking water of any city in the world.
Deputy city manager Sadhu Johnston’s report shows GCAT hopes Vancouver can instead double an unspecified “number of green jobs,” reduce “community-based” but not “corporate” emissions by a third and require buildings from 2020 onward to be operated – but not constructed – carbon-neutral.
The original goals for air quality and drinking water were to “always meet or beat the most stringent” B.C., federal and World Health Organization standards and guidelines.
The word “always” was deleted and WHO replaced by “international” in Johnston’s report.
GCAT is co-chaired by Mayor Gregor Robertson and environmental lawyer David Boyd.
Bob Mackin reports for Vancouver 24 Hours.
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Francis
1 year ago
Right then
This is an enlightened revision. I applaud the city for this. The Mayor is not a sellout for this dose of reality.
Its time for all who say they are concerned with the environment to engage in real discussion rather then what has passed for reality. And its time for those in business to adhere to environmentally responsible practices. And its time for the likes of Joyce Murry, Nathan Cullen and others to actually do something as policy makers rather than insist on what cannot be achieve and at the end of the day accomplish nothing and protect nothing. That is an abrogation of responsibility. The old virgins and sellout nonsense.
The environmental movement is going to loose the mainstream unless we have honest discussion on aspirations and attainable goals of sustainability The public wants real solutions and can smell a rat a mile away.
Despite the multi-millions pouring across the border the public understands that a unsustainable province includes sustainable work the pays a wages that can support a family.
Who is going to pay for the Evergreen Line in Burnaby Coquitlam? That money isn't going to come from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is it?
Regards etc.
P. Markunas
1 year ago
Audacious Goals No More?
It is charming to see the climb down from audacious targets stated flatly. Equally charming to see the lack of umbrage from these pages. A collective cold shower, perhaps.