In Vancouver, caring for the environment is central to the local culture. Historically, Greenpeace was one of the founding environmental activist organizations, which was regularly supported by the local newspaper the Georgia Straight.  

Following Greenpeace’s footsteps, many non-profit environmental activism organizations emerged in BC due to the strong support of local ecologists, environmental lawyers and volunteers- this includes the Green Party of BC, the Sierra Club, the David Suzuki Foundation, and Ecojustice.
Vancouverites make a long term commitment by working and  volunteering for these organizations to help push environmental campaigns and inform the public on how to live more sustainably. It is indeed part of the Vancouver culture to support conservation of the local coastal rainforest environment in numerous ways. There are many opportunities to get involved in these environmental groups and meet like-minded locals who support a greener way of life. Find out what these environmental activism organizations are all about and how you can become part of environmental activism in BC.

Green Party

Headquartered in Victoria, the Green Party of BC is an ecologically based political party currently led by by Jane Sterk. In 1983, it was founded in BC and was the first Green Party in North America.  They believe strongly in building a sustainable economy with a focus on global ecological issues. In the media, they are known more widely for their campaign to decriminalize marijuana. They believe that BC should regulate, produce and distribute marijuana to gain tax revenues and keep BC bud out of criminal circles.


Green Party Success

In the 2011 federal elections, the Green party leader Elizabeth May won the most votes in the riding of Saanich-Gulf islands and made history by becoming the first elected Green party MP in Canada. She credits her victory to the avid support of over 2 thousand volunteers, which represents a truly grassroots driven campaign.


How can you get involved?

› Volunteer for a diverse array of jobs from canvassing to social media work to fundraising.

› Sustain an active role in Green party policy development by becoming a member to support their mission "to ensure that Green Party candidates are electable, and elected, in 2013 and form an integral part of the Legislature by 2017" .

› Run as a candidate for the Green Party of BC.

The Sierra Club BC

This environmental activist organization has many projects across BC that focus on protecting wildlife, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting renewable energy projects. As part of their mission, Sierra BC "works with different levels of government, including First Nations, to ensure that conservation viewpoints are heard and [to] provide input on policy and budget decisions that affect the environment".


Sierra Club  Success

› helping develop a certification standard for sustainable forestry in BC as part of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in BC.
› collaborating with other conservation organizations such as Greenpeace and the David Suzuki Foundation, they have succeeded in the protection of 2.07 million hectares of BC wilderness which includes the Khutzeymateen Valley grizzly bear sanctuary and BC's Great Bear Rainforest.


How can you get involved?

› Start your own local group to organize outdoor and social events, host a biodiversity-tea party, or a Sierra house cooling party. Sierra Club of BC provides supplementary information to get started including an online local group leaders resource kit and local group resources publications.

› Host a Sierra CERCLES (Carbon Emission Reduction Clubs) social group and get involved in reducing your carbon footprint. Sierra Club BC provides workshops to train people interested in hosting CERCle group.

› Attend an environmental activism rally and meet like-minded locals. Rally dates are regularly posted on the Sierra Club BC website under the 'This Week' link. This can be found on the right hand side of each of their web pages.

The David Suzuki Foundation

Founded in 1990 by David Suzuki and Tara Cullis, this non-profit organization seeks to "protect the diversity of nature and [our] quality of life, now and for the future". The David Suzuki Foundation sustain this mission by focusing on what you can do on a daily basis to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, make sustainable food choices and limit your daily energy consumption.

David Suzuki Foundation Success

› conserving culturally modified trees in BC forests, in which the BC supreme court ruled they should be protected (1998)

› preventing a fish farm from dumping 1.5 million diseased Atlantic salmon into the Fraser River (2002) by working with the Musqueam and Ecojustice

› producing several publications including "Natural Capital in BC`s Lower Mainland: Valuing the benefits from nature”  and  "On the Edge: British Columbia`s Unprotected Transboundary Species"

Who is David Suzuki?

This well respected international environmental activist was born in Vancouver BC in 1936. Suzuki is a Japanese Canadian academic who is author to over 30 books. He has been called the "gladiatorial geneticist" as he gets his ideas across to public audiences by mixing education and entertainment. He has hosted the CBC television series Suzuki and Science, the radio program Quirks and Quarks, and the now widely popular show, The Nature of Things. Suzuki was awarded the UNESCO prize for science as well as a United Nations Environment Program medal.

How can you get involved?

› Join the Community Leader Program, which provides you with general resources and tips, and encourages you to come up with your own unique project. 

› Check out the latest David Suzuki Foundation Events that range from Green Cafes to MEC bike fests in Vancouver. These events are meant  to inform you on how to help contribute to a more sustainable environment in your everyday activities.

Ecojustice BC

Ecojustice is made up of a group of lawyers and scientists with a common goal "to ensure the long-term protection and health of our rich and diverse environment". They began in 1990 as the Sierra Legal Defence Fund of Vancouver and expanded to Calgary, Toronto and Calgary.  Ecojustice’s funding comes completely from private donors to help support lawsuits in four main areas- promoting healthy communities, fighting global warming, and protecting clean water & natural spaces in Canada.

Ecojustice BC Success

› Saved endangered Western painted turtles from being killed by stopping the City of Burnaby from dredging Burnaby Lake

› Persuaded the federal government to enforce an environmental assessment of the Doyle Island salmon farm to evaluate its impact on the local environment. This will be done before allowing any further expansions.

› Published "On the Edge: B.C.`s Unprotected Transboundary Species" in collaboration with the David Suzuki Foundation and Conservation Northwest

How can you get involved?

›  Volunteer or work with ecojustice through various volunteer, summer student and internships positions

City of Vancouver Environmental Activism

Vancouver has a goal to become the greenest city in the world by 2020. In 2009, Mayor Gregor Robertson put together a Greenest City Action Team. In 2010, the city of Vancouver encouraged Vancouver residents to rate actions and comment on strategies on the draft Greenest City 2020 Action plan.

City of Vancouver Success

› Promoted alternatives to driving which, since 1996, has led to a 20% increase in transit use, a 10% reduction in vehicle trips, a 44% increase in walking and a 180% increase in bike trips.

› Retrofitted 670 traffic signals with LED lights, which will save Vancouver residents $25 thousand every year on electricity bills and close to $110 thousand on maintenance.

› Decreased Greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels with Vancouver now achieving the lowest per capita emissions of any major North American city at 4.6 tonnes per person.

City of Vancouver Goals for 2020*

› 150 thousand trees planted in Vancouver by 2020

› $25 million 2 year plan to improve Vancouver's bike network

› 5 minute walk from most Vancouver resident housing to a city green space

*See the 10 City of Vancouver Greenest City goals at: http://talkgreenvancouver.ca/

How can you get involved ?

› Go to City of Vancouver Green events which range from public meetings to film screenings to potlucks. For current events visit: http://talkgreenvancouver.ca/events