While both business and consumer markets for “sustainability” and “green” products and services have steadily grown year-over-year, a green business also refers to enterprises with low-carbon or even zero-emission operations. VEC just renewed our Climate Smart certification for 2020, and we're taking a moment to celebrate this with a quick explainer of what it means, and share some tools available to businesses getting ready to embark on a similar journey.

Throughout the month of October, Vancity and the Vancouver Economic Commission co-hosted a three-part series on Vancouver’s growing circular economy. Titled Success and Opportunity in Vancouver’s Circular Economy, the webinars highlighted key local organizations and businesses leading the way, convened businesses and community support for circularity, with presenters making the case for new circular ventures and for existing businesses to transition to circular practices.

More than 1,500 jurisdictions around the globe – mostly cities – have declared a climate emergency, signaling the global concern about the climate crisis and the need for accelerated, coordinated and innovative action to forge a path forward. Addressing this crisis could unlock lucrative opportunities for businesses and form another cornerstone of the strong foundation necessary for economic recovery from the pandemic.

Understanding Risk BC 2020 is an online, collaborative symposium and event series that fosters place-based risk reduction strategies to proactively enhance resilience and improve disaster recovery pathways in BC. On September 22, leading practitioners and researchers from across the region will gather for a Vancouver Economic Commission-moderated panel.

Working with a team of BCIT Sustainable Business Leadership Students, Adam Corneil and George Benson, VEC’s Sector Manager for the Built Environment, have now completed a study on the potential value of deconstructed and salvaged materials across the whole of Metro Vancouver.

Vancouver-based grocery delivery service SPUD has introduced the “Stay Home” program to support at-risk individuals, frontline workers, the elderly and others facing difficulties accessing vital nutrition during the global pandemic.

“2050 is a single mortgage away.”    These simple yet evocative words from author David Wallace Wells set the tone for the 30th annual GLOBE Conference, the world’s longest-running sustainable...

At GLOBE 2020, thousands of corporate leaders, all levels of government, NGOs, technology innovators and strategic investors will convene to identify climate solutions, act on clean economy opportunities and seek inspiration from environmental trailblazers like David Wallace-Wells, whose keynote promises to shake up the status quo, drastically shift perspectives and spark the urgency required to make radical change.

On September 27, an estimated 15,000 people are expected at the Vancouver #GlobalClimateStrike , and we will walk out of our office to join them, adding our voices in solidarity and respect for the leadership of our young people, our peers, and our elders.

Brought to you by the Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC) and Spring, Discovery Foundation’s Capital Mentorship Program returns in 2019, featuring robust new content and a better startup experience than ever.

Between the Vancouver Zero Emissions Building Bylaw and the regional adoption of the BC Energy Step Code, a total of $3.3 billion in high-performance building systems and materials will be needed for buildings in the Lower Mainland to meet these two policies.

Today, the Vancouver Economic Commission launched a report quantifying the potential economic impact of the BC Energy Step Code (ESC) in Metro Vancouver, identifying a $3.3 billion market opportunity resulting from materials and manufacturing for newly constructed buildings to meet ESC energy requirements between 2019–2032.

Goodly Foods is a social impact enterprise that takes unsellable produce from local suppliers and turns them into delicious soups and sauces, creating living-wage opportunities for people with barriers to traditional employment.