Resource Library

In response to the need for research highlighting the importance of urban agriculture (UA) in BC, as well as to guide future policies surrounding UA in the province, this project identified and defined current UA initiatives in BC. This report categorizes 373 UA initiatives in the province according to location, type of initiative (e.g., community garden), land ownership, and educational component (if present), and provides recommendations for future research. 

Partner: Public Health Association of BC
Funder: UBC
Keywords: food systems, social sustainability, sustainable development & green economy

This report explores the relationship between street and sidewalk pavement rehabilitation and their impacts on the urban forest. Trees are a powerful tool for combatting extreme heat, but street trees are often grown in constrained environments. Streets in need of rehabilitation or replacement are identified, and the report asks whether those streets can serve other ecological functions that contribute to the City of Vancouver's Climate Emergency Action Plan targets.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Funder: City of Vancouver & UBC 
Keywords: climate adaptation, climate mitigation, green infrastructure, biodiversity, ecological systems, transportation

This project catalogues common design strategies used in very high performing residential buildings, and identifies where they intersect with the Township of Langley's Form and Character Guidelines. Four major design trends emerged among high-performance buildings catalogued in the report: orientation to maximize southern exposure, simple overall form, thoughtful window placement, and the use of exterior shading devices.

Partner: Township of Langley
Funder: BC Hydro
Keywords: green buildings, sustainable development & green economy

This report investigates the CO2 emissions resulting from the construction and operation of underground parking garages to halp inform the development of parking minimums and restrictions in the City of Vancouver. In this context, this study performed a Life Cycle CO2 -Eq analysis based on the literature and Vancouver data, and different scenarios of operation to evaluate the results.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Funder: City of Vancouver & UBC
Keywords: active transportation, climate action, climate mitigation, green buildings, sustainable development & green economy, CO2 emissions

This project aims to interweave Indigenous knowledge  and values into Foreshore Integrated Management Planning (FIMP), a decision-making tool that improves the quality and quantity of information about lake foreshore habitat integrity to inform evidence-based decision-making. Developed with the Upper Nicola Band, the framework presents an opportunity to position Indigenous Nations as a governmental body with decision-making power and for Indigenous knowledge to be a priority and a normalized reference point.  

Partner: Living Lakes Canada
Funder: UBC
Keywords: ecological systems, water

This research project involved a literature review to develop several case studies of collaborative flood management governance regimes that proactively consider climate change, ecosystems, food security, indigenous rights, and flood risk. To present valuable experiences from real-world case studies, the research reviewed several promising integrated floodplain management programs and some associated projects, such as a agricultural floodplain pilot, levee setbacks, and tidal marsh restoration.

Partner: Resilient Waters
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords: sustainable development & green economy, flood risk, indigenous rights

This project aims to identify low-emission alternatives to open burning of residential vegetative waste and discourage burning of yard waste among residents outside the urban containment boundaries of Metro Vancouver because of the health and air quality implications of burning. The fire bylaws in most municipalities focus on fire safety more than air quality and limit burning to wet seasons which adversely affect air quality.

Partner: Metro Vancouver
Funder: Metro Vancouver
Keywords: sustainable development & green economy, waste management & recycling, Residential Vegetative Waste, Yard Waste Management, Green Waste

The City of Vancouver is committed to ensuring that all people -- including members of marginalised communities -- can have a safe, accessible, and comfortable experience at voting places. This project supports that goal by identifying barriers to voting, determining best practices for reducing these barriers, and outlining opportunities for improving the voting experience in Vancouver, in addition to the development of a training module for election workers.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Funder: City of Vancouver & UBC
Keywords: equity, diversity, inclusion, healthy city, social sustainability

This project aims to improve existing approaches in the international development sector to strategy development. It identifies evidence-based approaches to organizational and programmatic strategy development that is aligned with feminist principles, such as inclusion and decolonization. This report highlights the key findings from this work, based on an environmental scan of theoretical frameworks, existing tools and approaches  as well as key informant interviews with practitioners.

Partner: Kore Global
Funder: Kore Global
Keywords: leadership & behaviour change, social sustainability, gender