The Dynamic Cities Project (DCP) is an enterprising non-profit organization based in Vancouver that helps local communities adapt to unprecedented global challenges including oil depletion and climate change. The DCP conducts scenario-based research in collaboration with local professionals and governments, in order to develop practical tools that foster the growth of more resilient cities, towns, and neighbourhoods.
Based on discussions with municipal staff, local politicians and consultants there is an expressed need to develop strategies for cities and regions to quickly become less dependent on fossil fuels. The DCP is contributing to that process by working with municipalities within the Greater Vancouver Regional District to develop integrated energy transition strategies for urban and regional planning.
Oil depletion and climate change are unprecedented global challenges in that they are only addressable through coordinated global action, and represent a planet-wide threat to global health, peace, and traditional economic growth in a way that we’ve never faced before.
Additionally, as a consensus emerges that we are at, or near, the global peak in sustainable oil production there is an exponentially growing awareness of the magnitude of the potential threat coupled to a growing awareness of the near vacuum of public discussion and planning on the part of our governments and industries.
The process of crafting a coordinated response to oil depletion (one that accounts for the parallel imperative of addressing climate change) is likely to represent a watershed event in human history and one that will impact the lives of every person on earth. At the regional and municipal level, we will need to change the way we do everything; from building our homes, to growing our food, to providing transportation, and growing our economies.
The time to act is now. Today, while energy is relatively cheap, it is exponentially easier to adapt our current ways of doing business and building cities than it will be if global oil production goes into rapid decline. Given this, it is critical that we begin to understand and address this challenge, and do it quickly.
Organization
Vision:
"We envision a future where governments, businesses, and societies come together around the common goal of creating a dynamic city; a city able to quickly and peacefully adapt to the unprecedented global challenges of oil depletion and climate change.”
Mission:
“To facilitate a peaceful transition to a sustainable society by defining the risks associated with current trends and crafting pathways for positive change".
Strategy:
“As an enterprising non-profit, the DCP will provide research, outreach, and project management services by leveraging federal and provincial funding in support of regional and local organizations.
The DCP will use scenario planning, research, collaborative design, and educational outreach to assist these local governments, municipal staff, community groups, and businesses in their efforts to adapt to the unprecedented challenges of the 21st century.”
Organizational Niche:
The DCP seeks to provide services that are currently outside the mandate of governmental, industry, and non-profit organizations. Whereas existing groups are seeking to address similar problems at either the global scale, or at the scale of the individual, the DCP seeks to bring professional design and planning experience to bear at the municipal and regional levels.
Non-Profit Role:
The DCP is a recently formed enterprising non-profit organization, based out of Vancouver, British Columbia and is currently in the process of becoming registered with the provincial government. In addition, the DCP is pursuing charitable status with Canada Customs and Revenue Agency as well as considering becoming a federally registered non-profit.
As an enterprising non-profit the DCP has an emphasis on becoming organizationally self-reliant through diversifying its income source. In order to become self-reliant the DCP will rely on earned income, in addition to donor operational funding and project specific funding. For more information on finances see the Budget and Funding Appendix.
The DCP was founded by three independent researchers: Bryn Davidson, Tom Lancaster and Jonathan Frantz, who are now the acting officers. The three officers are educated at the master’s level and have research and project management experience in urban sustainability, policy development and energy planning. It was through their involvement of current planning and design projects that they saw the need for the DCP.
Based on the complexity of the issues that the DCP is addressing, the officers work with both an Advisory Panel and a board of directors.