Sustainability

Taking action towards our vision

The RDCK Board is committed to reducing greenhouse gases, increasing renewable energy, increasing local food production, supporting water conservation and source water protection, increasing active transportation, and increasing affordable housing.

To advance the goals of the RDCK, there is work happening with residents from across the region, within the RDCK’s seven departments, and with the Board of Directors. The RDCK leverages its assets—relationships, information, infrastructure, funds, policy, project, staff time, and administrative function—to identify best practices and support ongoing efforts towards our vision for this region.

The RDCK is advancing sustainability in the region through collaborative processes, common vision and an integration of ecological, social and economic values.

Sustainability is integrated into the operation of the RDCK in multiple ways:

 

The RDCK has made the following commitments:

 

Provincial programs supporting RDCK operations

Regional Vision for Sustainability

The RDCK’s vision for sustainability has its roots in the Integrated Community Sustainable Planning (ICSP) process. This initiative—SustainABLE Central Kootenay—gathered input and engaged citizens in a dialogue about sustainability in our region in 2009, and was intended to guide discussions on sustainability in our region.

The RDCK’s vision for sustainability emerged from this process:
Read the RDCK’s vision statement and a summary of community input from the ICSP.

The deliverables of the SustainABLE Central Kootenay initiative, which include jurisdiction-specific vision statements and greenhouse gas backgrounders, will promote ongoing dialogue on how the RDCK can orient its services towards the achievement of long-term regional goals. The project reported on seven themes which emerged as priorities for area residents:

  1. Economic Development
  2. Health and social well-being
  3. Energy and Climate Change
  4. Water protection & advocacy
  5. Transportation
  6. Natural Areas
  7. Food and Agriculture 

SustianABLE Central Kootenay established a baseline of emission targets [PDF - 156 KB] that have helped inform subsequent action.

The RDCK continues to advance sustainability in the region through collaborative processes, common vision and an integration of ecological, social and economic values.

 

 

The content on this page was last updated January 15 2024 at 2:17 AM