Neighbourhood Climate Action Plan

Updated: March 5, 2024
NCAP
Thank you to those who participated in our most recent engagement for the Neighbourhood Climate Action Plan. Stay tuned to this page for updates.

NCAP covers the following climate action areas:  

For an overview of the draft goals, targets, and actions in each of the NCAP areas, download this PDF. 

For a full list of the draft actions in each of the NCAP scope areas, download this PDF. 

For NCAP materials translated into Simplified Chinese, download this PDF. 

Tell us what you think

NCAP engagement is now closed. Stay tuned to this page for an engagement summary report. 

Next Steps

Feedback from engagement on the draft NCAP in March is informing the final draft plan before it is presented to UBC’s Board of Governors for approval in June 2024. Once approved, NCAP will guide any amended and future neighbourhood plans, shaping how UBC’s Land Use Plan is implemented, as well as other initiatives like transportation and zero waste planning.  

The final NCAP will include an implementation plan with detailed actions, timelines and responsibilities. As with any climate action plan, NCAP will adapt and evolve to ensure we are taking advantage of all opportunities including new technical advancements and government policies.   

SPRING 2023
Preliminary Terms of Reference
SPRING 2023

Preliminary Terms of Reference

Technical scoping, goal and target setting with key stakeholders.

SUMMER 2023
Targeted Engagement
SUMMER 2023

Targeted Engagement

Engagement with key stakeholders and community members. 

FALL 2023
Public Engagement
FALL 2023

Public Engagement

Community engagement on emerging directions. 

SPRING 2024
Public Engagement
SPRING 2024

Public Engagement

Community engagement on the draft NCAP.

SUMMER 2024
UBC Board of Governors approval
SUMMER 2024

UBC Board of Governors approval

Draft NCAP goes to UBC Board of Governors for approval.

FALL 2024
Launch NCAP
FALL 2024

Launch NCAP

NCAP is implemented in the campus neighborhoods. 

Learn More about NCAP

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.  

NCAP will be informed by and will inform the following sustainability plans, policies, and projects:

Neighbourhoods covered by the draft NCAP include Hampton Place, Hawthorn Place, Wesbrook Place, Chancellor Place, East Campus, as well as the future Stadium and Acadia neighbourhoods. 

 

UBC Neighbourhoods

This graph shows emission reductions as a result of mitigation actions taken in the buildings, transportation and waste scope areas versus emission levels if we continue on our current path.  Building operations, which includes heating, cooling and hot water, are the largest source of community emissions in the UBC neighbourhoods, followed by emissions from resident vehicle travel and direct emissions from solid waste at the landfill. 

 

Emission projections in the neighbourhoods

The Guiding Principles for NCAP inform how we prioritize the NCAP goals and actions and evaluate their success. 

Guiding Principle  Key aspects  Examples of how this has already shaped our work 
Climate Justice and Equity 

Recognizing that climate change impacts are felt disproportionately among different communities. 

Climate action response should equitably distribute costs and benefits. 

Focus on equity in NCAP response to improve community outcomes, especially around affordability and health. 

Understand UBC’s responsibility within the broader global community to act in response to the climate emergency. 

Keeping health implications of decisions top of mind (e.g. impacts of gas cooking equipment on health). 

Highlighting actions that will improve health and wellbeing for neighbourhood residents. 

Considering affordability implications of decisions and looking for ways to more equitably distribute costs (e.g. focus on affordable, equitable energy costs for residents) .
Climate Leadership & Learning 

Position UBC as a local and global leader in climate action 

Find ways to share knowledge and integrate UBC’s academic expertise with NCAP. 

Engaging with members of UBC’s academic community in developing and evaluation potential actions (through focused discussions and membership in Technical Working Groups). 

Collaborating with other municipalities leading in climate action in developing actions at our Technical Working Groups (e.g. City of Vancouver). Looking to accelerate action and support implementation through an aligned approach. 

Participating in SEEDS Sustainability Program research projects under Campus as a Living Laboratory (e.g. Urban Forestry Capstone class).  
Shared Responsibility  Achieving NCAP climate goals requires collaboration and coordination with the UNA, UBC PT, neighbourhood residents, and neighbourhood utility partners, as well as initiatives from other levels of government.  Working closely throughout the NCAP process with staff from the University Neighbourhoods Association and UBC Properties Trust. 
Community Connection 

Engage community throughout NCAP process.  

Define actions that will lead to stronger, more resilient, community connections. 

Developed engagement plan to target a variety of community member in a variety of ways. 

Actions that increased community connections are being flagged for this co-benefit. 
Long-term Accountability and Governance 

Establish regular reporting cycles.  

Develop implementable action plan, with defined responsibilities and adequate resourcing. 

NCAP will include a commitment to plan updates on a regular cycle. 

NCAP will include a plan for annual progress updates. 

Technical working groups have started discussing what key performance indicators (KPIs) we can feasibly track moving forward. 

Greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, which includes heating, cooling, and hot water, are the largest source of community emissions, followed by emissions from resident vehicle travel and direct emissions from waste at the landfill. 

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Climate Projections for UBC

  • Mean Temperatures

    Climate projections show the UBC Vancouver campus will have more extreme day-to-day weather and also gradual constant changes, including rain, droughts, and warmer summer temperatures. NCAP will define how UBC adapts to these changes to build a resilient neighbourhood community.

    Sources: ClimateData.ca, Climate Atlas of Canada, IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in aChanging Climate, and Computerized Tool for the Development of Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curvesunder Climate Change Version 6.0 .

    THIS INFOGRAPHIC WAS CREATED BY ICLEI CANADA.

  • Temperatures Extremes

    Climate projections show the UBC Vancouver campus will have more extreme day-to-day weather and also gradual constant changes, including rain, droughts, and warmer summer temperatures. NCAP will define how UBC adapts to these changes to build a resilient neighbourhood community.

    Sources: ClimateData.ca, Climate Atlas of Canada, IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in aChanging Climate, and Computerized Tool for the Development of Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curvesunder Climate Change Version 6.0 .

    THIS INFOGRAPHIC WAS CREATED BY ICLEI CANADA.

  • Growing Seasons and wildfires

    Climate projections show the UBC Vancouver campus will have more extreme day-to-day weather and also gradual constant changes, including rain, droughts, and warmer summer temperatures. NCAP will define how UBC adapts to these changes to build a resilient neighbourhood community.

    Sources: ClimateData.ca, Climate Atlas of Canada, IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in aChanging Climate, and Computerized Tool for the Development of Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curvesunder Climate Change Version 6.0 .

    THIS INFOGRAPHIC WAS CREATED BY ICLEI CANADA.

  • Mean Precipitation

    Climate projections show the UBC Vancouver campus will have more extreme day-to-day weather and also gradual constant changes, including rain, droughts, and warmer summer temperatures. NCAP will define how UBC adapts to these changes to build a resilient neighbourhood community.

    Sources: ClimateData.ca, Climate Atlas of Canada, IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in aChanging Climate, and Computerized Tool for the Development of Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curvesunder Climate Change Version 6.0 .

    THIS INFOGRAPHIC WAS CREATED BY ICLEI CANADA.

  • Precipitation Events

    Climate projections show the UBC Vancouver campus will have more extreme day-to-day weather and also gradual constant changes, including rain, droughts, and warmer summer temperatures. NCAP will define how UBC adapts to these changes to build a resilient neighbourhood community.

    Sources: ClimateData.ca, Climate Atlas of Canada, IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in aChanging Climate, and Computerized Tool for the Development of Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curvesunder Climate Change Version 6.0 .

    THIS INFOGRAPHIC WAS CREATED BY ICLEI CANADA.

  • Sea Level Rise

    Climate projections show the UBC Vancouver campus will have more extreme day-to-day weather and also gradual constant changes, including rain, droughts, and warmer summer temperatures. NCAP will define how UBC adapts to these changes to build a resilient neighbourhood community.

    Sources: ClimateData.ca, Climate Atlas of Canada, IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in aChanging Climate, and Computerized Tool for the Development of Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curvesunder Climate Change Version 6.0 .

    THIS INFOGRAPHIC WAS CREATED BY ICLEI CANADA.

Past Engagement for NCAP 

Pre-engagement 
On June 26th, 2023, C+CP and the UNA co-hosted a community workshop for neighbourhood residents. The feedback obtained during the workshop alongside targeted workshops in each of the climate action areas with UBC and UNA staff, faculty and external subject-matters experts informed the NCAP emerging directions. 

Download this PDF to learn more about what we heard during this workshop.

Emerging Directions Community Engagement
Community engagement for NCAP’s emerging directions took place between October 17th and November 3rd, 2023, resulting in over 800 engagement touchpoints. This feedback was used to further refine the targets and actions in the draft NCAP. 

Download this PDF to learn more about what we heard during this engagement. 

Contact 

Kerry Shaw  
Senior Neighbourhood Climate Action Planner  
kerry.shaw@ubc.ca

Ralph Wells  
Community Climate and Energy Manager  
ralph.wells@ubc.ca

Madeleine Zammar  
Engagement Manager 
madeleine.zammar@ubc.ca