Ecocity Research Centre, BCIT

Building on Vancouver and international expertise in developing more ecologically sustainable cities, Jennie Moore and BCIT plan to establish a Centre to support the evolution of ecocities worldwide. Here partners will lead practical research and provide training for city planners from around the world to help cities and their partners measure progress towards becoming ecocities; and advise on the policies and planning needed to ensure this important transition.

The Centre would combine an academic program with advisory services and research.

The academic program, to be announced at the Ecocity World Summit 2019, will be delivered in partnership with other global academic institutions to provide the knowledge required to support all Ecocity Standards knowledge areas. 

Students would include those training to serve as sustainability managers in government and business; government staff; consultants and other business sustainability professionals. A masters credential might require terms of study at a number of academic institutions; and BCIT would provide programs in ecological footprinting and life-cycle analysis (LCA); built environment (technology); and sustainable business.

Local and senior levels of government, as well as businesses would be able to drawn on the Centre’s expertise through advisory services and pilot studies of ecological footprinting, consumption-based emissions inventories and sustainable consumption.

Among its initial priorities would be the further development and use of ecocity standards and the ecoCity Footprint Tool; and the intensification of ecocities research in partnership with academic institutions and agencies worldwide.