Vancouver's Journey to 100% Renewable Energy

My Climate Journey

This episode is part of our Skilled Labor Series hosted by MCJ partner, Yin Lu. This series is focused on amplifying the voices of folks from the skilled labor workforce, including electricians, farmers, ranchers, HVAC installers, and others who are on the front lines of rewiring our infrastructure.

Chris Higgins works for the city of Vancouver, British Columbia as a building planner, where he spearheads the development of energy-efficient building codes that contribute to Vancouver's ambition of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2050. Chris works on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through rezoning building policies for new buildings to be on all renewables, the “sticks,” and creating incentives for existing homes to switch to renewables, the “carrots.”

On the “stick” side, Chris was responsible for driving and helping to get Vancouver City Council to pass a sweeping policy to mandate that heating systems in new low-rise residential buildings be zero-emission, specifically using electric heat pumps. We discuss the complex process it took to get there. On the "carrot" side, we examine how strategically timed short and long-term incentives can align the economic interests of developers, manufacturers, and Vancouver residents, motivating a shift to renewable energy. We also talk about the similarities and differences between the US and Canadian markets on shaping policy and incentives in this area.

In this episode, we cover:

• [02:28]: Chris's background and current role
• [07:56]: Vancouver vs. other cities and its unique features
• [09:12]: Vancouver's climate leadership and influence on other cities
• [11:23]: What it means to be a Charter City
• [15:08]: The 2022 update to Vancouver's building bylaw and shift to heat pumps
• [18:29]: The smooth transition and industry adaptation to the new heating regulations
• [22:22]: Balancing environmental goals with job protection
• [25:56]: The ripple effect of Vancouver's policies on other municipalities
• [31:20]: Potential for Vancouver's policies to influence provincial and national levels
• [35:02]: The role of 'carrots', or incentives, in shaping city policies
• [39:41]: The importance of economic alignment in policy success
• [41:35]: Drawing inspiration from other cities and countries for urban planning
• [45:46]: Vancouver's strategies for resilience against natural disasters

Episode recorded on Oct 31, 2023 (Published on Jan 11, 2024)

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