Neighbourhood Climate Action Plan

Updated: June 12, 2024
NCAP

Update

✅ Status: Approved

The UBC Board of Governors has approved the Neighborhood Climate Action Plan (NCAP), which sets a pathway to a net-zero and climate resilient community for the residential neighbourhoods on UBC’s Vancouver campus. Thank you to all who participated in the Neighbourhood Climate Action Plan (NCAP) engagement process. Stay tuned to this space for further updates on NCAP.

Download NCAP (PDF)

Download NCAP Action Matrix (PDF)

About the Neighbourhood Climate Action Plan (NCAP)

NCAP sets a pathway to a net-zero and climate resilient community for the residential neighbourhoods on UBC’s Vancouver campus. With the increased frequency of intense climate events, there is a renewed and urgent focus on climate action, as outlined in UBC’s Climate Emergency Response. In 2021, UBC launched Climate Action Plan 2030, which charts a course to reach net zero emissions for the academic campus. NCAP will do the same for residential neighbourhoods as well as plan for adaptation to our already changing climate.  Visit the NCAP website to read the final plan. 

October 2023 - November 2023
Emerging Directions
October 2023 - November 2023

Emerging Directions

Public engagement ran from October 17, 2023 to November 3, 2023 to gather feedback on the plan’s Emerging Directions. The feedback was used to inform the draft goals, targets, and actions needed to achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions and climate resiliency in UBC’s neighbourhoods.

March 2024
Draft NCAP
March 2024

Draft NCAP

The draft NCAP was developed after the first phase of engagement and reflected feedback from the community as well as inputs from workshops with Technical Working Groups. The draft NCAP was then presented to the community for feedback in the second phase of engagement from March 5 to March 22, 2024.

Summer 2022 - Early 2023
Background
Summer 2022 - Early 2023

Background

In the first phase of NCAP development, the overall approach and scope were determined, and baseline energy and emissions analysis and climate projections were completed. Input from Campus Vision 2050 was used to help provide insights into community priorities.

Summer 2023
Pre-Planning
Summer 2023

Pre-Planning

As part of early engagement to inform the NCAP emerging directions, C+CP hosted a community workshop in Wesbrook Community Centre on June 26, 2023 with 33 participants from across UBC’s neighbourhood communities. The event was supported by the UNA, including UNA staff reviewing content and facilitating table discussions.

October 2023 - November 2023
Emerging Directions
October 2023 - November 2023

Emerging Directions

Public engagement ran from October 17, 2023 to November 3, 2023 to gather feedback on the plan’s Emerging Directions. The feedback was used to inform the draft goals, targets, and actions needed to achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions and climate resiliency in UBC’s neighbourhoods.

Technical Working Groups were established to develop draft goals and targets and initial key actions for the NCAP scope areas. NCAP “Emerging Directions” (draft goals, targets and key actions) were then shared for feedback through public engagement in the fall of 2023.

March 2024
Draft NCAP
March 2024

Draft NCAP

The Draft NCAP was developed after the first phase of engagement and reflected feedback from the community as well as inputs from workshops with Technical Working Groups. The draft NCAP was then presented to the community for feedback in the second phase of engagement from March 5 to March 22, 2024.

NCAP goals, targets were further refined and detailed actions were developed by the Technical Working Groups, incorporating feedback from fall engagement. The draft plan was shared in a second public engagement period in March 2024. Based on feedback from engagement, the plan was revised and submitted to the UBC Board of Governors in June 2024.

June 2024
Board of Governors Approval
June 2024

Board of Governors Approval

The UBC Board of Governors  approved NCAP, which sets a pathway to a net-zero and climate resilient community for the residential neighbourhoods on UBC’s Vancouver campus.

Summer 2024 onwards
NCAP implementation
Summer 2024 onwards

NCAP implementation

Implementation of NCAP will involve continued collaboration with the UNA, UBC Properties Trust and outside partners such as the City of Vancouver and BC Hydro. Actions will be implemented through a climate equity lens that looks to improve outcomes for all, while paying attention to who benefits, who bears the costs, and how we can better support vulnerable community members. Ongoing dialogue with the community, as well as learning and research opportunities with UBC’s academic community will also be essential in implementation, ensuring that the plan is responsive to feedback and able to take advantage of innovative solutions.  

What We Heard

Community feedback has been essential in shaping NCAP, which is the culmination of two phases of public engagement and collaboration among staff at UBC, the UNA and UBC Properties Trust, academic researchers and partnerships with government, utilities, industry and non-governmental organizations. To ensure NCAP is both ambitious and achievable, engaging with the community was essential to understanding the lived experiences of diverse community members and to identify priorities, gaps, and what support the community needs to take climate action. Click on the drop down below to learn more about what we heard during engagement.

The following tables provides a high-level overview of the top themes heard across engagement and the work underway to address this feedback.

 

All Scope Areas

What We Heard

How We Are Responding

All Scope Areas

Interest in diverse and creative types of education, training and centralized resources created for residents (especially youth) to increase community resilience and explain the why of NCAP actions (across all Scope Areas).
  • Explainer boxes within report daylight the thinking behind NCAP’s planning approach
  • NCAP commits to. developing communications and engagement plans during implementation that will outline how information and progress will be shared with the community.
  • The detailed action matrix includes a range of actions across all scope areas for resource development. Describing key information to share on NCAP actions and what it means for community members
Interest in the equity implications of NCAP implementation and how the needs of vulnerable populations will be prioritized (e.g., seniors, non-native English speakers, folks with mobility challenges, renters vs. landlords)
  • NCAP highlights equity considerations across all scope areas, including at the individual sub-action level. These considerations will be applied during implementation.
  • During Summer 2024, NCAP plans to develop an equity lens memo to expand upon the current considerations and further clarify how to keep equity prioritized during implementation.
Broad sentiments of climate anxiety and grief coupled with a desire to accelerate NCAP timelines to match the sense of urgency behind climate change adaptation - most notably for cooling and wildfire smoke ventilation upgrades for existing buildings
  • Streamlining permitting and providing communication resources to support cooling retrofits in existing building
  • Implementing design requirements for future climate to prevent overheating and maintain air quality in new buildings
  • NCAP includes actions to develop a comprehensive emergency response plan for local wildfire events and expand cooling centres in the neighbourhoods.
Overarching desire to see incentives for climate friendly behaviour change and avoid passing costs onto renters or homeowners (e.g., monetary incentive for bikeshare use; subsidies for higher energy bills).
  • Affordability is a key aspect of NCAP’s climate equity lens. Opportunities to improve affordability will be integrated into implementation.
  • Some specific actions in NCAP include:
    • Operational performance requirements improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs.
    • Existing building equipment replacement requirements are designed to align with planned maintenance schedules to avoid costs at unexpected times.
    • One of the transportation sub-actions is “Study ways to improve access to active transportation through equity-oriented programming.”, which intends to explore options to develop equity-oriented funding models.
Concerns about NCAP transparency, governance (e.g., funding and resourcing), accountability, and potential long-term impacts (e.g., affordability).
  • Full action matrix (draft and final) has been released to the public.
  • The information within this table is intended to help share how we’re responding to engagement feedback

 

New Construction & Existing Buildings

What We Heard

How We Are Responding

New Construction & Existing Buildings

Desire for improved communication on how regulations (e.g., REAP) will be shifting, and interest in community collaboration on future REAP updates.
  • NCAP actions include development of communication materials for REAP that target building owners and community members.
  • NCAP provides a roadmap of planned future regulatory updates (e.g., 40% reduction to embodied carbon in new construction)
  • There will be ongoing engagement on implementation of NCAP actions
Consider the language, knowledge, and physical barriers to the current retrofitting process (especially for seniors, renters and newcomers) and address these accessibility and inclusivity concerns to incentivize retrofitting
  • NCAP commits to streamlining permitting and improving communication material to make retrofits for cooling easier to access.
  • An equity lens will be applied during implementation of NCAP actions to better identify and support residents who have stronger need or higher barriers to accessing equipment replacements
Call for all new buildings to be built using sustainable and green building technologies (e.g., passive heating and cooling) and low carbon materials (e.g., mass timber).
  • Through REAP, all new buildings will require renewable, low-carbon energy supplied by the NDES, have strong energy efficiency requirements that support passive design, have embodied carbon requirements that ensure use of low-carbon building materials such as mass-timber
  • REAP incentivizes the use of renewable solar panels for on-site electricity production and use of mass timber

 

Transportation & Mobility

What We Heard

How We Are Responding

Transportation & Mobility

Safety concerns surrounding specific intersections and routes for active transportation and car traffic (e.g., Wesbrook roundabouts, neighbourhood bike routes, pedestrian experience for disabled and older residents etc.)
  • NCAP commits to plan for resilient, safe and expanded active transportation networks, including sidewalks, connected greenways, and cycling routes through updates to UBC’s Transportation Plan and Neighbourhood Plans in the next 1-2 years.
Desire for improved transportation accessibility, efficiency, and reliability (e.g., rain shelters at stops, frequent and reliable undisrupted bus routes, affordability, etc.), especially for specific groups (e.g., disabled people, seniors, staff, students, young families and children, etc.).
  • NCAP commits to expand and enhance cycling routes, sidewalks and transit stops to support safe and resilient transportation networks (e.g. have shaded and covered shelters at public transit facilities, shading along walking and cycling routes and public misting stations) in the next 3-5 years.
Need for local, accessible and affordable food options and amenities (especially culturally relevant food and groceries) to mitigate car traffic in and out of the neighbourhoods.
  • Campus Vision 2050’s Community of Communities big idea proposes 3 new “Community Hearts” including grocery stores and other food options in future neighbourhoods / expansions. These will each be further detailed (including location and amount of retail) in neighbourhood plans. A small retail area including potential for a grocer is planned in Wesbrook Place South, a mid-sized grocer in Stadium Neighbourhood and also a grocer in the future Acadia Neighbourhood. During build-out, Properties Trust works with potential tenants and manages the leasing process.

 

Waste, Materials, & Consumables

What We Heard

How We Are Responding

Waste, Materials, & Consumables

Desire for accessible, transparent, and comprehensive information on community waste sorting responsibilities in a variety of languages.
  • NCAP actions include development of options for community zero waste initiatives.
Desire for more recycling stations around the neighbourhood and build capacity for more Green Depot facilities (e.g., longer hours, more recycling options in residential units).
  • NCAP actions include planning for expanding and enhancing the UNA Green Depot and facilitating opportunities to expand other community recycling facilities.
Increase community awareness about waste sorting through fun and engaging community building initiatives for people of all ages, cultures, and abilities (e.g., community clean-up days, yard sales etc.)
  • NCAP actions include development of options for community zero waste initiatives.
Build partnerships between UBC’s Zero Waste initiatives and the UNA to identify reusable items especially during peak move-in and move-out seasons (e.g., furniture and books), and make them available to the wider community.
  • UBC and the UNA will collaborate on zero waste initiatives and will explore opportunities to expand UBC programs to include UNA residents

 

Ecology

What We Heard

How We Are Responding

Ecology

Desire for more community connection through access to nature and green space (e.g., dog parks, gathering, community gardens).
  • Community connection is one of NCAP’s guiding principles. Green neighbourhood spaces offer this benefit.
  • As shown in Campus Vision 2050 under Restorative and Resilient Landscapes, UBC plans to create substantial new green spaces for social, recreational, research, and ecological benefit. This includes spaces and greenways within the residential neighbourhoods. Details on how this is implemented will be included in amended and future Neighbourhood Plans
Address long waitlists for community garden space by adding additional plots for flowers, edible plants etc.
  • The UNA currently has over 200 assigned community garden plots, plus the Old Barn Children’s Garden. Space for community gardens is considered as part of the neighbourhood plan process, which can occur in public spaces (e.g. parks) as well as in private spaces (e.g. ground-level landscaping, podium rooftops, shared communal areas between buildings, etc.). Wesbrook Place has several new community gardens under development, including the new Research Park, and the Draft Stadium Neighbourhood Plan includes community garden spaces in the Ecological Park.
  • REAP currently includes an optional credit to support food growing opportunities. NCAP has added context to one of our actions to explore potential to further incentivize growing spaces at the site scale through REAP.
Tension with the goals/intent of this Scope Area and plans for population growth and development on campus (e.g., eagles nest coning)
  • The Campus Vision 2050 process confirmed the Vancouver campus must continue to grow in response to the acute housing crisis facing the UBC community and to meet the needs of the university. The Vision and Land Use Plan set out strategies and policies to ensure this growth happens in a way that lowers carbon emissions, and supports local ecology and biodiversity. Detailed plans and guidelines including the updated Integrated Rainwater Management Plan, an emerging biodiversity strategy, and updates to REAP (informed by NCAP) ensure land use decisions and development projects are consistent with the Vision and Land Use Plan commitments.
Desire to see multi-functional green spaces that encourage local wildlife to thrive (e.g., wildlife & pollinator friendly gardens, preserved and enhanced tree canopy) and discourage invasive species.
  • Climate resilient plantings are a key component under the Ecology scope. The NCAP report includes an explainer box summarizing what NCAP is considering.
  • NCAP includes actions to create guidelines and support climate resilient plantings at the neighbourhood scale, through amended and future neighbourhood plans and at the site scale through REAP updates.

 

Climate Emergency Preparedness

What We Heard

How We Are Responding

Climate Emergency Preparedness

Desire for more education and awareness building to ensure the safety of the neighbourhoods before, during or after climate emergencies (e.g., clear emergency plans, seasonal fire and earthquake drills, etc.).
  • Building and sharing resources with community members on a variety of climate emergency events is a key component of NCAP’s work under this scope area.
  • This strong community support will help inform priorities for UBC and the UNA during implementation.
Desire for increased community connection (e.g., increasing common, accessible, and third spaces within the neighbourhoods) so people can connect day-to-day and feel safe during future emergencies.
  • Community connection is one of NCAP’s guiding principles. Across all scope areas, actions that help increase opportunities for connection have been highlighted for this co-benefit.
  • Climate emergency resources developed during NCAP implementation will include information on the location and features of spaces that will support climate emergency response (e.g. cooling available in Wesbrook Community Centre).
Desire for establishing community leadership groups and student organizations to enhance general awareness and share climate action information, especially amongst youth.
  • NCAP has committed to prepare engagement and communications plans during implementation.
  • During the development of these resources, NCAP will explore opportunities to coordinate future engagement and communications through existing or future organizations, especially ones that connect to vulnerable community members, as well as youth.

 

Neighbourhood Infrastructure

What We Heard

How We Are Responding

Neighbourhood Infrastructure

Desire for fast, large-scale infrastructure upgrades to match the urgency of climate change (e.g., larger capacity energy grid, rainwater management solutions) and prepare for future population growth.
  • Coordination is ongoing with utility partners including BC Hydro and Corix to plan and install the energy infrastructure needed to support UBC’s growing neighbourhood population.
  • UBC’s Integrated Rainwater Management Plan (IRMP) is currently being updated considering future climate projections. IRMP implementation will address rainwater infrastructure needs for the growth and changing climate conditions expected in UBC’s residential neighbourhoods

 

🔎 For more details on this period of engagement, please see The Emerging Directions Engagement Summary Report and Appendices which can be found in our Document & Resources Library.

 

Emerging Directions are draft goals and targets in key climate action areas and includes the actions needed to achieve those goals and targets. These were developed through targeted engagement with the University Neighbourhoods’ Association (UNA), UBC Properties Trust, community members, and key stakeholders, and staff and faculty from across the campus who have the technical expertise to help inform the plan’s emerging directions.

Public engagement for NCAP launched in October 2023 to gather feedback on the plan’s Emerging Directions. The feedback will be used to inform the draft goals, targets, and actions needed to achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions and climate resiliency in UBC’s neighbourhoods.

 

We had a total of 833 engagement touchpoints through several types of engagement activities including an online survey, an open house, pop-ups held throughout the neighbourhoods, community conversations, workshops, walking tours and roadshow presentations.

 

Overview of What We Heard

Feedback was focused specifically around the six scope areas of NCAP. Along with broad support for the NCAP development and implementation process, we heard four cross-cutting themes across all six NCAP scope areas:

  • Community members want to see themselves and their needs represented in NCAP: We heard that UBC residents want to better understand how NCAP will be implemented at the neighbourhood scale and how it will influence daily life on campus (e.g., how are we improving thermal comforts in buildings and where will we see additional tree canopy for shading and cooling?)
  • Timing and ambition of NCAP needs to match the urgency of the climate crisis: We heard a mix of support and concern about holding NCAP accountable to more ambitious commitments that match the urgency behind residents’ lived experiences of changing climate conditions (e.g., faster timelines, specific actions, identify roles and responsibility for each action).
  • Feelings of climate anxiety and need for community support hubs: We heard strong concerns about changing climate conditions in UBC neighbourhoods and a desire for clear, centralized resources to understand the climate action work being done in neighbourhoods and what to do and where to go during climate emergencies.
  • Concern about barriers to climate action: We heard community concerns about the process and financial barriers to taking climate action (e.g., purchasing heat pumps is expensive, understanding new recycling guidelines is challenging for newcomers).

Community feedback from this engagement, alongside technical work, informed the final NCAP goals, targets and actions which was presented to the community for further feedback in early 2024 as part of the Draft NCAP engagment.

🔎 For more details on this period of engagement, please see The Draft NCAP Engagement Summary Report and Appendices which can be found in our Document & Resources Library.

 

The draft NCAP was developed with support from Technical Working Groups, comprised of staff from UBC, UNA and UBC Properties, academics and subject matter experts. Their knowledge, work and research in each of the scope areas have informed the goals, targets and actions of the draft plan. Community feedback has also been essential in shaping the draft NCAP and has taken place during a community workshop in June 2023 and over two phases of public engagement in October/November 2023 and March 2024.

 

There were a total of 667 engagement touchpoints through several types of engagement activities including an online survey, open houses, pop-ups held throughout the neighbourhoods, community conversations, workshops, roadshow presentations, coffee chats, and a walking tour.

 

Overview of What We Heard

Feedback was focused specifically around the six scope areas of NCAP. We heard four cross-cutting themes across all six NCAP scope areas:

  • Broad support for the draft Plan and interest in the details of NCAP implementation across all scope areas because of the importance and urgency behind mitigating and adapting to climate change.
  • Interest in diverse and creative types of education, training and resources targeting residents (especially youth) to increase community resilience and explain why the actions across all scope areas need to be taken.
  • Interest in the equity implications of NCAP implementation and how the needs of vulnerable populations will be prioritized (e.g., seniors, non-native English speakers, folks with mobility challenges, tenants renting from owners).
  • Desire to accelerate NCAP timelines to match the urgency behind climate change,most notably for cooling and wildfire smoke ventilation upgrades for existing buildings.

Feedback from this engagement informed the final draft plan before submission to UBC’s Board of Governors for approval in June 2024. NCAP will help inform any amended and future Neighbourhood Plans, shaping how UBC’s Land Use Plan3 is implemented, as well as other initiatives like transportation and zero waste planning.

Engagement Approach

The NCAP engagement process was anchored by Campus + Community Planning's Engagement Charter and has built upon the successes of the engagement process for UBC’s Campus Vision 2050. This meant emphasizing targeted engagement with community groups and providing diverse ways to engage. Transparency, inclusivity, equity, and flexibility were core principles for the engagement process.

Achieving NCAP's climate goals requires collaboration and coordination with the UNA, UBC Properties Trust and neighbourhood residents. 

University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA)

  • Maintains neighbourhood programming such as community gardens, community centres, recycling and composting initiatives and recreational and community building initiatives.
  • Maintains infrastructure such as street and sidewalk repairs, public waste and landscaping.
  • Regulates matters of concern in the public realm such as parking, noise and local emergency response.
  • Communicates directly with stratas and rental residents to support the distribution of information.

UBC

  • Develops the policy and plans around how land is used and buildings are built
  • Oversees permitting process.
  • Leads the community engagement process that helps shape UBC plans and policy.
  • Provides campus-wide infrastructure such as rainwater management.

UBC Properties Trust

  • Builds and manages rental homes and retail space in accordance with UBC’s Land Use Plan, Housing Action Plan, Neighbourhood Plans as well as sustainability related plans and guidelines.
  • Builds infrastructure such as transportation networks, greenways, parks and community gardens in accordance with UBC’s Land Use Plan, Neighbourhood Plans as well as sustainability related plans and guidelines.

Neighbourhood Residents

  • Undertakes strata operations and retrofits.
  • Makes mobility choices (e.g. transit, walking and rolling, zero emission vehicles).
  • Undertakes waste sorting (recycling, organics) and waste reduction.
  • Participates in energy and water conservation.
  • Makes consumption choices

Advisory Councils and Committees

  • University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA) Board
  • Alma Mater Society (AMS) Council
  • AMS Annual General Meeting
  • Norma Rose Elementary Parent Advisory Council
  • Faculty Association General Meeting
  • University Hill Elementary Parent Advisory Council
  • University Hill Secondary Parent Advisory Council

Community Groups

  • Tapestry Seniors
  • UNA Newcomers Support Group
  • UNA Youth Leadership Group
  • UNA Pre-Teen Leadership Group
  • Environmental Alliance at UHill Secondary School
  • University Communities for Sustainable Development (UCSD)
  • Group of UBC students who are tenants (renting from owners) in the neighbourhoods
  • Former UBC Climate Action Mobilizers

Throughout NCAP, we engaged the community through a variety of engagement activities including:

  • Online Survey
  • Public Workshops
  • Targeted Workshops
  • Community Conversations
  • Coffee Chats
  • Pop-Ups
  • Roadshows
  • Open Houses
  • Walking Tours

More information and for a description on each engagement activity please see our Engagement Summary Reports.

The NCAP process was designed to support comprehensive and diverse engagement and intentionally sought to lower barriers to participation. This included building collaborative relationships with groups in the neighbourhoods, as well as meeting the community where they are by attending scheduled meetings. Other approaches include, but are not limited to:

  • providing honoraria to support participation of students in workshops;
  • offering both in-person and online options to participate;
  • offering childcare at evening and weekend events; and
  • translating informational materials and having translators at certain events to reach broader ethnocultural communities in the neighbourhoods.

For more details on how we embedded equity into the NCAP engagement process, download our Engagement Summary Reports which can be downloaded in the Documents & Resources library.

What Engagement Looked Like

Staff at an open house
Staff at a NCAP Open House in Wesbrook Community Centre
Participants in a workshop discussion
Participants in a NCAP workshop
A group of people on a walking tour
A group of people on a NCAP walking tour
Staff presenting at a community conversation
Staff presenting during a community conversation.

Contact Us

Project Leads

Kerry Shaw  
Senior Neighbourhood Climate Action Planner
UBC Campus + Community Planning  
kerry.shaw@ubc.ca

Ralph Wells  
Community Climate and Energy Manager
UBC Campus + Community Planning
ralph.wells@ubc.ca
 

Engagement Lead

Madeleine Zammar  
Manager, Engagement
UBC Campus + Community Planning
madeleine.zammar@ubc.ca