The environment has long shaped the identity of this community and its residents. Natural areas, which make up 70% of the District’s overall land base, also contain ecosystems that provide functions necessary for our health and that of a wide variety of plants and animals.

The OCP, which is an Integrated Sustainable Community Plan, envisions a future where the air is clear, water is clean, waste is minimal and the quality of life valued today is sustained for future generations. It also provides objectives for:

• reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• achieving an efficient urban structure
• managing ecosystems
• adapting to the impacts of climate change
• building resilience to prepare for and respond to natural hazard and other emergencies

The District adopted its Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in 2017. Integrating science and best practice and guided by a national program focused on building adaptive and resilient communities, the Strategy will help the District build and respond to the social, economic, and environmental impacts of climate change.

What we want to achieve

We are committed to integrating environmental considerations into all of the District’s decisions and practices.

We recognize that many efforts sustained over time are necessary for meeting our environmental and climate goals. At the same time, we also see the climate emergency we face and know we have an important role in creating awareness and a sense of urgency.

Outcomes important to us include:

• increased resilience through emergency planning, preparedness initiatives, and infrastructure planning
• increased community awareness and community-based actions
• the creation of action plans with our neighbours and partners, such as a sea level rise action plan

We can be a leader in climate change adaptation by 2022.

The actions we are going to take

Leadership on environmental protection and climate action is essential to inspire and enable staff to do their best work. Supporting innovation and science-based policies and decisions is critical.

The Corporate Plan will include actions advance implementation of the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and make necessary changes in District operations, policies and regulations.

For example:

• Develop a North Shore Resilience Strategy using the UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
• Initiate projects that raise awareness about climate change and reducing GHG emissions (e-bike share and other new mobility initiatives)
• Work together and learn from others, including the Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish Nations, to update and create new policies required to address climate action
• Update liquid and solid waste programs
• Implement Integrated Stormwater Management Plans

See our progress with this priority