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Citiesplus - Sustainable Transportation Component

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The Sheltair Group has a 21-year history of innovative consulting work, providing services to a broad range of clients in Canada, the U.S., Asia and Europe. The company is organized into four divisions: urban sustainability, green buildings, resource management, and building science. Our divisions offer complementary consulting services and apply a trans-disciplinary approach.

What are they doing?

citiesplus brought home the Grand Prix from the International Gas Union's Sustainable Urban Systems Design competition in Tokyo, June 2003. The winning plan was developed for the Greater Vancouver region and is a valuable template for long term planning by other communities. Nearly 500 individuals and organizations from across the country collaborated to develop this 100-year plan for urban sustainability. The project began by predicting the future characteristics of the GVRD and its environment (population, climate, environmental quality, etc.), and by envisioning a desirable and sustainable future.

Citiesplus resulted in plans based on long-term considerations, but with strategies and actions placed in a more immediate context. citiesplus provided decision makers with the insight and confidence they need to move society in a sustainable direction - leading to truly sustainable transportation.

What did the project accomplish?

Exposure and Awareness

The citiesPLUS plan was presented at a conference in Tokyo, Japan, which was attended by more than 5,200 people from 62 countries all around the world. Nine regions from around the world participated in the competition and, as a result, the citiesPLUS team has become part of an international network, including: San Diego, U.S.; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Changshu, China; Berlin, Germany; Goa, India; Tokyo & Mishima, Japan; Vologda, Russia.

The citiesPLUS core team was comprised of key organizations in the Greater Vancouver Region, and numerous organizations from across the country were also involved (see Appendix A for the complete list). This extensive partnership greatly increased the level of exposure that citiesPLUS received.

Information about the project was shared in media coverage, newsletters and the web site.

As a result of this broad exposure, citiesPLUS has contributed to an increased awareness about the significance and opportunities for long-term planning.

Adoption

citiesPLUS is currently being integrated into the GVRD's Livable Region Strategic Plan.

Climate Change Benefits

If the citiesPLUS plan is successfully implemented in Greater Vancouver, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 6% of 1990 levels by 2040. This is the equivalent of one tonne per capita (from the current seven tonnes per capita).

Ken Cameron, Manager of Policy and Planning for the GVRD, said from the International Gas Union Conference in Tokyo, “This award reflects and strengthens the ability of Canadians to demonstrate leadership in the rapidly growing international market for expertise in urban sustainability. We are looking forward to applying the results of this process to our own continuing efforts to enhance the liveability and environmental quality of the GVRD.”

Where can you find more information?

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Date modified:
2010-02-03