It’s no coincidence that several globally prominent environmental groups, including the David Suzuki Foundation and Greenpeace, have roots in BC; or that BC introduced North America’s first revenue-neutral carbon tax. Not only is green thinking top of mind for Vancouver’s businesses and residents, but green industries (and green jobs) are rapidly expanding. Today, our clean technology, clean energy, green building, urban design, local food, and environmental services are sectors on the rise.
Vancouver’s expertise in sustainable design is guiding major developments across the globe.
Vancouverites’ strong connection to the outdoors provides a unique competitive advantage in a world struggling to deal with environmental issues. That’s one reason that Vancouver aspires to be the world’s greenest city by 2020, as outlined in the City of Vancouver’s Greenest City 2020 Action Plan. Vancouver has been moving forward and rapidly taking action while most cities are still talking. Concern for the environment is being transformed by the region’s entrepreneurs into green solutions — solutions with high worldwide demand. Companies such as Westport Innovations (clean-burning alternative fuels), Ballard Power Systems (hydrogren fuel cells) and Saltworks (advanced water treatment solutions) are global leaders in their field. Up-and-coming companies with big commercial potential include MineSense Technologies (real-time 3D rock scanning), Enterra (sustainable animal feed and fertilizer) and Endurance Wind Power (distributed wind technology).