On June 11, the Board of Governors passed the UBC Neighbourhood Climate Action Plan (NCAP) to build climate resilience in residential neighbourhoods on the Vancouver campus.
The plan — which addresses neighbourhood climate adaptation and greenhouse gas reductions — will impact existing areas like Wesbrook Place and future projects like the Acadia and Stadium neighbourhoods. These areas are represented by the University Neighbourhood Association (UNA), who previously asked to put Campus Vision on hold until NCAP could be completed.
NCAP works alongside UBC plans like the Land-Use Plan, Campus Vision 2050 and Climate Action Plan 2030. NCAP will be completed in stages.
- UBC finishes Campus Vision 2050 engagement and presents final draft
- Neighbourhood Climate Action Plan engagement process addresses campus development, green space and climate adaptation
NCAP aims to achieve net-zero operations for the UNA by 2050, with a 30 per cent reduction by 2035, compared to 2022 levels. The plan also identifies six pathways to this target: buildings, transportation, waste, ecology, climate preparedness and neighbourhood infrastructure. Some of the targets include net-zero solid waste emissions and all trips UBC neighbourhood residents be made on zero emission modes of transportation.
One of the plan's goals is to also create “quantifiable targets” as some action items don’t always have measurable metrics to track over years. Examples include 1-2 year goals to “support nature-based solutions to climate action” and “continue supporting the UNA on sustainable landscape practices,” reads the plan.
In a statement to The Ubyssey, Director of Sustainability & Engineering Campus and Community Planning John Madden wrote “NCAP defines rapid and ambitious regulations to support NCAP’s goals.
“With actions like this, we will reliably meet our stated targets.”
NCAP also includes a proposed 2,500 tonnes of carbon emission reduction from “additional rapid transit [and] active transportation uptake.” This is in addition to the proposed SkyTrain to UBC which is projected to cut another 2,500 tonnes of carbon emission.
UBC also plans to continue collaborating with other groups and UBC initiatives with overlapping goals, such as SEEDS for policy development and supporting the Integrated Rainwater Management Plan.
The plan’s ecology pathway aims to continue to directly involve the Musqueam Nation, including the co-development of a “UBC-Musqueam Plant List to identify plants of cultural importance” and continuing the growth of already established “learning landscapes” that emphasize traditional knowledge.
“Achieving critical climate action targets requires transformational action at all levels, including … federal, provincial and municipal governments, public sector organizations, utility providers, and individuals,” wrote Madden.
The UNA did not respond to The Ubyssey's request for comment by press time.
This article was updated on August 2 at 5 p.m. to include a comment from Director of Sustainability & Engineering Campus and Community Planning John Madden.
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