Vancouver's Fight Against Air Pollution

Vancouver, Canada, has a long history of climate action and has implemented various measures to reduce air pollution. The city has set targets to reduce carbon pollution by 50% by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050. To achieve these goals, Vancouver has developed plans such as the Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP) and the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (CCAS). The CEAP focuses on land-use planning, transportation, buildings, and natural climate solutions, while the CCAS provides a roadmap to address the five main climate change-related hazards faced by the city, including poor air quality. Additionally, the Port of Vancouver, which is Canada's largest port, has made significant efforts to reduce air pollutant emissions. The port is a partner in the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, aiming to reduce port-related air emissions. The port has also offered incentives for ships to reduce emissions, such as allowing them to connect to the province's hydropower grid and providing reduced fees for ships powered by lower-emission fuel. These initiatives, along with others, contribute to Vancouver's goal of creating a healthier and more sustainable city.

Vancouver's Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (CCAS)

Addressing Climate Hazards:

CCAS focuses on five main climate change-related hazards that Vancouver is facing: extreme heat, poor air quality due to wildfire smoke, drought, extreme rainfall, and sea-level rise. These hazards pose significant risks to the health, safety, and well-being of Vancouver's residents and the city's natural environment.

Enhancing Resilience:

A major goal of CCAS is to enhance the resilience of Vancouver's communities and infrastructure. This includes investing in proactive adaptation measures such as expanding the urban forest canopy to provide natural cooling and shade, retrofitting buildings to add cooling and reduce emissions, and developing a city-wide coastal adaptation policy to address sea-level rise and coastal flooding.

Supporting Ecosystems:

The strategy recognizes the importance of protecting and enhancing Vancouver's natural ecosystems. This includes initiatives such as expanding green rainwater infrastructure to enhance the natural environment and mitigate the urban heat island effect, as well as investing in natural climate solutions like forests, kelp beds, and soils to capture and store carbon.

Equity and Collaboration:

CCAS prioritizes equity in its response to climate change, recognizing that vulnerable populations are disproportionately impacted. The City of Vancouver is also working closely with local and regional partners, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, to advance climate adaptation and resilience efforts collaboratively.

Reducing Air Pollution:

As part of CCAS, Vancouver is taking steps to reduce air pollution and improve air quality. This includes implementing initiatives to reduce emissions from vehicles, buildings, and industrial sources, as well as addressing the impacts of wildfire smoke on air quality. The region's Clean Air Plan aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve overall air quality, with a focus on transportation, buildings, industry, and agriculture.

Climate Emergency Action Plan:

Vancouver has also developed a Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP) to reach the necessary carbon pollution reduction targets. The CEAP identifies specific actions in areas under the city's jurisdiction, calling for transformational changes, partnerships, and bold climate policies that support individual behavior change.

The Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy

The 2020 NWPCAS update sets an ambitious vision: to phase out emissions from seaport-related activities by 2050, supporting cleaner air for local communities and helping to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. This vision advances the reduction targets of the Port of Seattle, Port of Tacoma, and aligns with the most recent climate science.

The strategy focuses on reducing emissions from key operational sectors, including cargo-handling equipment and port administration and facilities. It places an emphasis on diesel particulate matter (DPM), the key driver of air pollution in the Puget Sound region, as well as greenhouse gases (GHGs). The NWPCAS also addresses other air pollutants and emissions that affect the climate, such as nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and black carbon.

The NWPCAS has been developed in partnership with U.S. and Canadian government agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Washington State Department of Ecology, and Metro Vancouver. It also incorporates input from non-governmental organizations, near-port community groups, industry, and local governments.

The strategy sets joint objectives for the Northwest Ports to work towards, including implementing programs to increase efficiency, phasing out old, high-emitting equipment, and increasing the use of lower-emission fuels. It also facilitates collaboration among government, utilities, fuel providers, and industry to ensure the infrastructure for zero-emission technologies is in place, and drives the adoption of these technologies.

The NWPCAS provides a mechanism to ensure that through partnered action, environmental performance is driven forward, even in the face of competing interests. The strategy has already shown substantial progress, with the four port entities meeting the 2020 emission intensity targets.

The Port of Vancouver's EcoAction Program

The Port of Vancouver is working towards becoming the world's most sustainable port by finding ways to reduce and mitigate the impacts of trade on the environment. The port authority's EcoAction Program is a key part of this.

Through the EcoAction Program, shipping companies are incentivized to reduce their environmental footprint by offering discounted harbour dues of up to 75% for ships that take voluntary measures to reduce their emissions and environmental impact. This includes using renewable energy to reduce air emissions, installing propeller technologies that reduce underwater noise, or obtaining third-party environmental designations.

Based on the eligible criteria a shipping company meets, it can qualify for a Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze award level. Each approved ship is eligible to receive the EcoAction Program discount for all calls where harbour dues are applicable at the Port of Vancouver.

The EcoAction Program is just one of several climate action and air quality-focused initiatives implemented by the Port of Vancouver to reduce air contaminants and greenhouse gas emissions associated with ships, cargo handling equipment, and trucks. Other initiatives include the Shore Power program, which offers shore power facilities at cruise and container terminals, allowing ships to shut off their diesel-powered auxiliary engines and connect to British Columbia's low-emission hydroelectricity, and the Low-Emission Technology Initiative, which aims to accelerate the trial and adoption of low and zero-carbon emission fuels and technologies.

By participating in and leading these various programs and collaborations, the Port of Vancouver is taking a proactive approach to environmental protection and climate action, working towards its goal of becoming the world's most sustainable port.

The Clean Air Plan

Vancouver, Canada, has a long history of climate action and has implemented various measures to reduce air pollution. The city's efforts are guided by two main plans: the Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP) and the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (CCAS). The CEAP focuses on land-use planning, transportation, buildings, and natural climate solutions, while the CCAS provides a roadmap to address the five main climate change-related hazards faced by the city, including poor air quality.

One of the key strategies under the CEAP is the Clean Air Plan, which aims to cut regional greenhouse gas emissions by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and improve overall air quality and visibility in the region. The plan targets the region's largest emitters: transportation, buildings, industry, and agriculture. By improving regional transit, advocating for the sale of zero-emissions vehicles, and supporting innovation in zero-emissions technology for medium-to-heavy-duty trucks, ships, and trains, the plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.

Additionally, the plan proposes measures to reduce emissions from buildings, which are the second-largest source of emissions in the region. By swapping out gas-burning boilers for heat pumps, retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency, and banning wood burning, the plan aims to reduce emissions and improve air quality.

Overall, the Clean Air Plan for Vancouver, Canada, outlines a comprehensive set of actions to reduce air pollution and improve air quality in the region. By targeting key sectors, advocating for innovative technologies, and providing incentives for emissions reduction, the plan aims to create a healthier and more sustainable environment for its residents.

The Zero Emissions Economic Transition Action Plan

Vancouver, Canada, has a long history of climate action and has implemented various measures to reduce air pollution. The city has set targets to reduce carbon pollution by 50% by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050. To achieve these goals, Vancouver has developed the Zero Emissions Economic Transition Action Plan as part of its Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP). This plan outlines specific actions to reduce air pollution and transition to a zero-emissions economy.

One key focus of the Zero Emissions Economic Transition Action Plan is the transportation sector, which accounts for nearly 40% of Vancouver's carbon pollution. The plan aims to reduce emissions from vehicles by promoting the use of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and improving regional transit. By encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles and providing infrastructure such as charging stations, the city can significantly reduce air pollution from gasoline and diesel-powered cars. Additionally, improving public transportation and making it more accessible can reduce the number of vehicles on the road, further decreasing emissions and air pollution.

The plan also targets buildings as a major source of air pollution, with over half of Vancouver's carbon pollution coming from burning natural gas for heating and hot water. The Zero Emissions Economic Transition Action Plan proposes initiatives such as retrofitting buildings to be more energy efficient, swapping gas-burning boilers for heat pumps, and banning wood-burning to reduce fine particulate matter emissions. By implementing these measures, the city aims to reduce emissions from buildings by 50% and lower embodied emissions from construction by 40% compared to 2018 levels.

Another important aspect of the Zero Emissions Economic Transition Action Plan is the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority's efforts to reduce emissions from marine vessels and shipping activities. As a signatory to the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, the Port of Vancouver is committed to cutting its carbon emissions and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. This includes offering incentives for ships to reduce emissions, such as allowing them to connect to British Columbia's hydropower grid and providing discounted harbour dues for ships powered by lower-emission fuels. By collaborating with government, industry, and port users, the port authority aims to facilitate the transition to alternative forms of energy and reduce the environmental impact of shipping.

Overall, the Zero Emissions Economic Transition Action Plan outlines a comprehensive approach to reducing air pollution in Vancouver. By targeting key sectors such as transportation, buildings, and shipping, and by promoting the use of renewable energy and efficient technologies, the city is taking direct action to create a healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable environment for its residents.

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