Alex Boston

CLIMATE SOLUTIONS

Alex Boston earned his Masters of Science at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute. He brings two decades of experience in climate and energy policy, planning and engagement to his new role as Fellow of the SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue and Executive Director, Renewable Cities . He has served governments, real estate developers, utilities, university think tanks, municipal associations and non-profits.

Before establishing his own consultancy, Alex led community climate and energy services for an urban planning and design firm, and a global engineering operation, Golder Associates.

He led multiple award-winning community energy plans recognized for innovative carbon modeling and mapping, implementation readiness, and powerful triple bottom line analysis.

Alex takes a systemic problem-solving approach, integrating climate action with other resonant priorities: affordability, jobs, congestion, farmland protection, public health, and civic infrastructure deficit management.

Alex supported BC Ministry of Environment on its precedent-setting program to generate community energy and emission inventories for all BC municipalities.  He developed Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ best practice guide for GHG target setting, and was principal advisor on Climate Protection Program Renewal.

Alex advised Prime Minister Martin’s Task Force on Cities on the federal role in urban climate action, designed educational tools for Natural Resources Canada and BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs on community energy planning. He developed neighbourhood energy plans for municipalities and developers, and advised Metro Vancouver on its EV charging infrastructure network strategy. He managed the sea level rise flood control plan for the largest new neighbourhood on the North Shore of Vancouver Harbour, and contributed to BC’s sea level rise land use guidelines.

While serving David Suzuki Foundation, Alex oversaw projects on renewable power and conservation in Ontario, a Canadian deep GHG reduction agenda, high integrity carbon offsets, and a Union of Concerned Scientists collaboration on Great Lakes climate impacts.

Alex attributes some of his strongest policy solutions to meaningful engagement with earnest skeptics and open-minded opponents.