Vancouver has won a global award from the World Green Building Council for the city’s policies that promote green building initiatives.
The Government Leadership Award for Best Green Building Policy was granted to the City of Vancouver at the UN Climate Change Convention November 20 in Warsaw, Poland. The award, which recognizes local government leadership in green building and policies that mitigate environmental impact, was granted to the city based on its Greenest City 2020 Action Plan.
“Vancouver’s 2020 Action Plan is globally recognized as an example of leadership in creating a sustainable city,” said Thomas Mueller, president and CEO, Canada Green Building Council. “Over 60% of carbon emissions in Vancouver are associated with buildings and homes. The plan takes bold steps towards reducing energy use in buildings along with water use, and increased recycling targets.
“The City’s LEED Gold policy for large new developments delivers results in many areas of the Action Plan when buildings are constructed.”
The World Green Building Council also granted awards to:
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – the Regional Leadership Award for the Estidama Pearl Rating System, a program that implemented mandatory sustainability regulations;
- Christchurch, New Zealand – Urban Regeneration Award for various policies and initiatives effecting a sustainable rebuild in a city devastated by earthquake damage; and
- Seoul, Korea – Climate Action Leadership Award for its One Less Nuclear Power Plant initiative, which aims to reduce energy consumption in the city.
