Climate Action

Vancouver is taking urgent action to ensure the safety, security, and stability of our growing community in the face of climate change. How we respond can create opportunities for a healthier, safer, and more equitable community.

As a regional climate leader, the City is developing a wide range of new policies and programs directed by our Climate Action Framework to achieve our community’s climate goals, strengthen our ability to manage impacts that are already here, and make wise investments for the future. Sign up for our Climate Action Updates to receive climate news from the City and information on ways that you can take action.

Recent news

September 27: City releases 2023 Greenhouse Gas Inventory

April 25: City awarded grant for energy efficiency upgrades in affordable housing

Framework

Climate Action Framework

A blueprint to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resiliency to climate change impacts for all residents.

Download framework

Progress Report

October 2023 Report

Progress that departments across the City have made toward our climate priorities in the first year of the Climate Action Framework.

Download report

GHG Inventory

Greenhouse Gas Tracking

Accounting of greenhouse gas emissions community-wide and from municipal government operations for the year 2023.

Download report

Climate Action Framework

On Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, after extensive community and stakeholder engagement, City Council approved a resolution to adopt the City’s Climate Action Framework, a roadmap to support a just and equitable transition to community-wide carbon neutrality by 2040 and to build the City’s resilience to the impacts of climate change.

The following greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals guide our work:

An 80% reduction in GHG emissions by municipal operations by 2025.
An 80% reduction in GHG emissions by the Vancouver community by 2030.
Carbon neutrality by both municipal operations and the Vancouver community by 2040.

Community Emissions 2023

Municipal Emissions 2023

The Framework provides strategies and specific actions to cut carbon emissions and build community resilience across six focus areas:

Equity and Green Economy
Buildings and Energy
Transportation and Land Use
Natural Systems and Water Resources
Solid Waste and Wastewater City Governance

Every four years, City staff will work with the community to assess the greenhouse gas reductions that have been achieved and refine the strategies and actions to reflect new policies, technologies, and best available science. The next update of the Climate Action Framework will take place in 2026.

Major Climate Initiatives Underway

Development of Vancouver’s first Green Building Policy to lay the foundation for future sustainable development community wide.
Investment in solar power generation at City facilities, including emergency response centers and Pearson Airport.
Energy efficiency projects at City facilities and identification of opportunities to transition from gas to lower-emission electric systems.
Lowering emissions of City fleet vehicles by transitioning to cleaner, renewable fuels and introducing new electric and hybrid-electric vehicles.
Encouraging community shifts to green modes of transportation through Complete Streets projects.
Increased investment in municipal tree planting capacity to accelerate tree canopy goals.
Experimenting with and expanding climate- and pollinator-friendly landscape practices in Parks, Greenways, and other City operations.
Workforce development in Urban Forestry as a green jobs sector.
Embedding climate action as a core value of Vancouver’s foundational land use and transportation planning efforts.