Township of Langley Sustainability Charter

Sustainability Charter Presentation to Council June 23, 2008

Presentation Outline

Sustainability Charter Development Process

Sustainability Vision

Sustainability Goals and Objectives

Implementation – immediate actions

Implementation – long term actions

Recommendations to Council

Sustainability Charter Process

Since 1990: Langley Tomorrow Program

Corporate Mission Statement, Goals and Objectives

Langley Tomorrow Surveys

2005: Towards Sustainability

2006: Sustainability by Design (SxD)

2007: Community Engagement

Sustainability Expert Panel

Sustainability Community Workshop

2008: Community Engagement

Sustainability Cafés and Open Houses

Sustainability Vision The Township of Langley Sustainability Vision is to build a legacy for future generations by leading and committing the community to a lifestyle that is socially, culturally, economically, and environmentally balanced.

Sustainability Goals

Implementation – immediate actions

Devise a strategy to mainstream the concepts of sustainability

Take advantage of Bill 27 (Green Communities)

Integrate initiatives, indicators, reports and surveys

Consider establishing a Langley Carbon Trust

Consider implementing a Sustainability Development Checklist

Implementation – Mainstreaming

Devise a mainstream strategy

Set up a website

Provide a central source of sustainability information

Report sustainability targets and indicators

Share sustainability ideas

Inspire others to think and act in a sustainable manner

Implementation – Bill 27 (Green Communities)

Bill 27 proposes:

a requirement for all local governments to set greenhouse gas emission targets and establish policies and actions to reduce emissions in their official community plans by May 31, 2010.

additional powers to enable local governments to alter or waive development cost charges for projects that reduce energy and water consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Township of Langley Official Community Plan and the Development Cost Charges Bylaw will be reviewed and updated to meet the requirements of Bill 27.

Implementation – Integration

Initiatives

Climate Action Charter, Sustainable Region Initiative, Livability Accord

Indicators

International, National, Provincial

Local – Township and neighbourhood

Reports

Corporate Sustainability Reporting – Triple Bottom Line

Annual Corporate Report

Surveys

Community Development, Finance, Parks and Recreation, Protective Services

Implementation – Langley Carbon Trust Carbon offsetting is becoming popular among consumers who are concerned about the negative environmental effects of energy-intensive lifestyles and economies. A Langley Carbon Trust could be established to accept voluntary contributions (in the form of carbon credits) from individuals, groups and companies to help them become carbon neutral. Proceeds from the contributions could be invested in local projects to further the goal to nurture a mindset of sustainability in the community.

Implementation – Sustainability Checklist Township staff will work with the development industry to investigate the feasibility of introducing a Sustainable Development Checklist.

Implementation – Long Term Actions

The Sustainability Charter is a high-level framework. It is a skeleton. We will hang the “meat” on the skeleton.

Start to align Corporate projects in the 2009 Work Program with the new Sustainability Goals.

Recommendations to Council

That Council adopt the Sustainability Charter, considered to be an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan as defined in the Gas Tax Agreement;

That Council authorize staff to update the existing Corporate Goals and Objectives by replacing them with the Sustainability Goals and Objectives in the Sustainability Charter; and further