Sustainability CharterPresentation to Council

June 23, 2008

Presentation Outline1. Sustainability Charter Development Process

2. Sustainability Vision

3. Sustainability Goals and Objectives

4. Implementation – immediate actions

5. Implementation – long term actions

6. Recommendations to Council

• 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 Charter Process

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

1. Devise a strategy to mainstream the concepts of sustainability

2. Take advantage of Bill 27 (Green Communities)

3. Integrate initiatives, indicators, reports and surveys

4. Consider establishing a Langley Carbon Trust

5. Consider implementing a Sustainability Development Checklist

Implementation – Mainstreaming1. Devise a mainstream strategy

2. 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 – Integration1. Initiatives

• Climate Action Charter, Sustainable Region Initiative, Livability Accord

2. Indicators• International, National, Provincial

• Local – Township and neighbourhood

3. Reports• Corporate Sustainability Reporting – Triple Bottom Line

• Annual Corporate Report

4. 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

• That Council direct staff to investigate and report on the feasibility of establishing a Langley Carbon Trust.

End of Presentation

Thank you!