Laying the seeds of sustainability does produce results - one idea at a time
Truth be told, I was not always a supporter of Gregor Robertson, largely because I didn’t know how to accept some of the policy utterances he made. That is, his visions for the city were at times so grand, and so idealistic, I was often unsure of whether it was rhetoric, blue sky dreaming, or an actual plan for action that I was listening to.
Statements like this for example:
“There is no reason why Vancouver cannot be the greenest city in the world. Our citizens have the talent, the expertise, and the drive to make Vancouver an environmental leader. It’s time to ditch the green-washing and get moving on a real commitment to sustainability.”
were hard to decipher from the point of view of a political hack such as myself who can at times grow impatient with platitudes.
Well, here I sit in September 2009, and as Vancouver approaches the one-year anniversary of Robertson’s victory, let’s say that my scepticism has been largely replaced with hope, particularly when it comes to his green agenda.
This article on Vancouver’s future plans for electric cars is a great example of how the element of risk is a part of the Mayor’s overall approach. Couple that with conviction, and you have the recipe for something truly different, not only for the Vancouver municipal scene, but for governance as a whole across the country.
Underestimating Robertson is perilous. Judy Darcy did it back in 2005 when as the heavily favoured “shoo-in” for the Vancouver Fairview NDP nomination, she completely dismissed Robertson’s chances because he was a political neophyte.
So too did Peter Ladner, who dismissed Robertson during last year’s election with his usual air of entitlement and his “I know more than you” type of attitude.
Even I was guilty of it as a supporter of my good friend Raymond Louie during the Vision Vancouver mayoral nomination race.
Each and every time, Robertson proved his doubters wrong, and emerged with the opportunity – and I want to repeat that word opportunity – to show what he could do.
The reason I make this emphasis is simple – Robertson doesn’t get anything from just winning. As an example, I suspect that his ambition and desire for impact was never really satisfied in the provincial legislature – whether by the design of Carol James, his rookie status, or an impatience for the way in which a majority Campbell government ensured that the NDP was consistently cut off at the knees.
So upon entering the municipal realm and making pronouncements such as the highlighted quote from above, Gregor has to produce to show his detractors what his plans are, and whether they ever emerge above the stage of discussion and campaigning.
People might have ridiculed the backyeard chickens and the community gardens, but both represented the start of what I suspect will be a number of small and tangible initiatives that Vancouver’s citizens can easily take ownership over.
The Burrard Bridge bike lane was supposed to signal the Armageddon of commuting, and yet nearly two months into the trial, it was been a huge success by doing exactly what it set out to do – increase the amount of pedestrians and cyclists using the bridge, while diverting cars towards other options.
Creating an infrastructure for the electric car idea was panned by the development community and seen by many as a Council vote where intention would dwarf action. On the contrary, the policy directive has created waves across North America. One of my closest friends who has just left our fair country to move to Chicago is a sustainability-centred financial analyst who just happens to be working with one of the companies on the continent that is looking to broadly build that electric infrastructure.
From what he tells me, Vancouver’s City Council might have galvanized an entire sector of green business development that is now looking very favourably towards Vancouver to recreate a European-styled pilot project for electric cars and other sustainable technologies applicable to an urban environment.
And then finally, we have staged a real coup by scooping Sadhu Johnston from the Windy City to become our new deputy City Manager. Chicago’s reputation and green credentials have been transformed by this man in a relatively short time, and his contacts, connections and capabilities could be transformational in the way in which our city adopts sustainability into our long-term future, particularly with regards to the local economy.
The greenest city in the world? Well, I know that we have a long road ahead of us, especially if you consider how advanced European cities are by contrast. But after one year of Gregor Robertson’s green dreams, I’m ready and willing to come along for the ride.
