Vancouver will be powered by 100% renewable energy!
We are very excited to hear the news about our city’s commitment to a clean future. Following a city council vote on March 26th, our city formally announced it’s commitment to this sustainable goal at the ICLEI World Conference in Seoul, South Korea.
Vancouver has now joined a list of more than 50 cities around the world that have pledged to run on 100% renewable energy. The goal to be 100% renewable applies not only to electricity, but to heating and cooling as well.
Currently, 90% of our electricity already comes from renewable sources. However, our total energy needs being powered by renewable sources are at a much lower number of 32%. Why the low score when electricity resources are almost completely renewable? Vancouver’s heating, cooling and transportation is what brings the percentage down.
It is estimated that the target date to be 100% renewable will fall between 2030 and 2035. In a statement, Vancouver’s Mayor Gregor Robertson said:
“Cities around the world must show continued leadership to meet the urgent challenge of climate change, and the most impactful change we can make is a shift toward 100 percent of our energy being derived from renewable sources. The future of Vancouver’s economy and livability will depend on our ability to confront and adapt to climate change, and moving toward renewable energy is another way that Vancouver is working to become the greenest city in the world.”
Read more about this exciting development via The Guardian!
(Image: Michael Matti, via Flickr; CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)