Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Renewable Cities program?
Renewable Cities is a new global 5-year program of the Simon Fraser University Centre for Dialogue in Vancouver, which partners with government, business, and community groups to generate non-partisan ideas and create actionable outcomes that impact the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of our communities. We provide the platform to discuss, define, and manage the transition to 100% renewable energy and energy efficiency in cities. We address the electricity, heating and cooling, and transportation sectors.
Why a Global Learning Forum?
There are groups all over the world working toward 100% renewable energy. Cities are also leading the way in energy innovation and implementation. Renewable Cities, through the Global Learning Forum, will bring these disparate groups together to create a movement for 100% renewable energy and energy efficiency in cities.
Who is the Global Learning Forum for?
If you produce energy, supply energy, trade energy, plan for energy demand, or look at energy as an opportunity to become more efficient or integrate your municipal systems, you can contribute and learn at the Global Learning Forum. This is especially true if you work on the implementation of renewables and energy efficiency at the municipal level—whether it’s the electricity, heating and cooling, or transportation sector.
The Forum is designed for city and utility staff as well as individuals from the private sector and civil society. Sessions are designed to cut across four streams: legislation and policy; building citizen and political will; finance, investment, and the business case; and technology and infrastructure.
Why should I attend?
The Global Learning Forum is an opportunity to weigh in on renewable energy and energy efficiency alongside thought leaders from around the world. In addition to hearing about the experiences of other jurisdictions, you’ll participate in highly collaborative, peer-led capacity building sessions. Need some more detail? Read the specifics on reasons to attend, from a variety of perspectives:
- City and utility staff: There are challenges to implementing renewable energy and striving for energy efficiency in the electricity, heating and cooling, and transportation sectors. You will have the opportunity to learn from your peers in terms of working with constituents, utilities, elected officials, and other levels of government. In addition, you will be able to understand how other jurisdictions have made massive leaps forward in implementation.
- Private sector: You have a product and you are ready to scale up or enter new markets. You have thought through the logistics of meeting the demands of the city and need to know more about working with cities. There are technical aspects your peers have considered and could help you address: ensuring dispatchable capacity, integrating energy with other municipal systems, and strategies to navigate the political and legislative landscapes.
- Utilities and energy brokers: With the mandate of providing reliable energy and managing existing assets in the face of distributed energy, while ensuring a fair price for your customers, public engagement, policy decisions, finance, and technology are all part of your everyday decision-making. This forum brings your global peers who are unlocking opportunities to balance these goals as their clients shift to renewables.
- Civil society: Learn how to best support support cities through the energy transition by working with both the public and private sectors. Understand how to best leverage partnerships and influence energy decision-making in city halls and across multiple levels of government.
- Researchers: Demonstrate your research, network with other academics, and interface with practitioners and developers.
- Other levels of government: Urban cooperation with national and sub-national levels of government is crucial to energy system innovation. Learn how other regions have leveraged intergovernmental relationships and designed policy and incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency.
- Elected officials: You are an elected official, at the municipal, provincial or national level, and you want to know more about international trends and innovations in the use of renewable energy by cities. Enter a dialogue on how political will can help to shape policy and action.
Help define the global movement towards 100% renewable energy and energy efficiency in cities. Take part in the Renewable Cities Global Learning Forum.
Is this a conference?
The Forum is more than a conference. If you wish to listen and learn, you will have the opportunity to hear from world-leading mayors, high-level academics, and energy experts. However, the Forum focuses on small group capacity building workshops where participants will engage in a collaborative dialogue that is orientated towards solutions.
The event will begin with an inspirational opening event on May 13 and will feature a gallery of public art design submissions from the Land Art Generator Initiative. Not only are these art conceptions aesthetically pleasing, but they are also designed to generate utility-scale renewable energy. Renewable energy can be beautiful!
What is included in the Forum’s registration fees?
Your registration fee covers:
- Opening evening event, which explores the cultural shift to 100% renewable energy and energy efficiency in cities
- Full access to all panels and capacity building sessions
- Optional site visits to cleantech, renewable energy, and energy efficiency innovations in and around Vancouver (registration is limited)
- Meals during the sessions, as well as coffee and refreshments throughout the three-day Forum
Where does the Global Learning Forum take place? Where can I find accommodation?
The Forum takes place at the Four Seasons Hotel (791 West Georgia Street) in Vancouver, BC, Canada. It is a five-star hotel and deluxe conference space and a, “Global leader in green hotels and meeting rooms.” A special rate has been negotiated for participants. Reserve now to avoid disappointment. The special rate is also valid for Four Seasons Whistler during the weekend following weekend (come for the Forum, stay for the skiing!).
Why Vancouver?
Vancouver is a thriving cleantech innovation hub and has one of the lowest per-capita greenhouse gas footprints of any city in the world. Home to the internationally lauded Greenest City Action Plan, the City of Vancouver is a proud supporter of Renewable Cities. The City of Vancouver also recently voted to adopt 100% renewable energy in their electricity, heating & cooling, and transportation sectors, making it the first Canadian city with a 100% RE goal and a leader in North America.
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