Bio: Polly is driven by a passion to create a more sustainable and equitable world. After receiving a BSc in Environmental Sciences and a BA in Geography from the University of British Columbia in 2007, she had the pleasure of working for leading organizations such as TransLink and the Fraser Basin Council on exciting sustainability projects such as the first Regional Cycling Strategy and the first Sustainability Snapshot of the Lower Mainland. She is currently working on climate change initiatives at the City of Surrey's Sustainability Office as well as earning a Masters in Community and Regional Planning. Polly's research makes the business case for a climate change mitigation development cost charge (DCC) by demonstrating its practical application using the City Centre area in Surrey, BC as a case study. Many communities have begun to experiment with using DCCs to fund ‘green’ infrastructure and environmental mitigation programs, with some success in using cost charges for habitat and environmental preservation. Academic literature has identified the rationale and potential for using DCCs to offset the costs of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but no research has been done on how a climate change mitigation DCC would be designed and applied in practice. This project addresses the gap in research by fully developing the concept of a climate change mitigation development cost charge as well as designing a program and calculating rates using the City Centre area as a case study. If successful, the business case could increase the capacity of local governments across BC to tackle climate change mitigation. Polly is committed to being involved in her community. Currently, she is a board member with Sustainable Cities International and a committee volunteer with the Planning Institute of British Columbia. In her spare time, she likes to explore the amazing landscapes of the Pacific Northwest by hiking boot and bicycle and experiment with growing vegetables year-round in her garden.
Education: Education • 09/2010 – Current: Candidate, Masters of Science in Planning, specializing in climate change mitigation | School of Community and Regional Planning, University of British Columbia • 09/2002 – 05/2007: Bachelor of Arts, specializing in Environment and Sustainability | Department of Geography, University of British Columbia • 09/2002 – 05/2007: Bachelor of Science, specializing in Ecology and Conservation | Environmental Sciences Program, University of British Columbia Awards • 2012: Lawrence Munroe Memorial Scholarship | School of Community and Regional Planning, University of British Columbia • 2011-2012: Masters Scholarship | Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council • 2010-2012: Graduate Fellowship | Pacific Institute for Climate Solution • 2010: Graduate Student Initiative Award | University of British Columbia • 2002-2006: Undergraduate Scholar | University of British Columbia
Other Publications: • 2010: Sustainability Snapshot 2010: Working Together in the Lower Mainland. Steve Litke, Marion Town, Amy Greenwood, Polly Ng, Marion Robinson, Tracey Hooper. Fraser Basin Council. • 2008: Growing Gardens: A Resource Package on How to Start Your Own Community Garden. Polly Ng, Gehron Burkholder, Jing Niu, Anjuli Solanki. • 2008: A Student Evaluation of the Plant Biodiversity of the Richmond Nature Park Bog: Effects of Human Disturbance and Invasive Species. Lori Daniels, Polly Ng, Josephine Epp. In A Biophysical Inventory and Evaluation of the Lulu Island Bog, Richmond, British Columbia. Neil Davis, Rose Klinkenberg (eds). Richmond Nature Park Society, Richmond, British Columbia. Pp. 252-263. • 2007: Post-Conflict Oil Governance: Lessons from Angola? Polly Ng, Phillipe Le Billon. Danish Institute for International Studies Report 8: 35-50.
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