Sunshine Coast Sustainability Initiative

The Sunshine Coast Regional District will undertake a sustainability initiative that includes a Regional Sustainability Vision and Strategy and a Regional Energy and Emissions Sustainability Plan. Through this initiative, the district, which comprises three municipalities and five unincorporated electoral areas, will develop a governance framework for sustainability that integrates and informs all aspects of its governance and operations. The Vision and Strategy will include goals and objectives, and will prioritize actions for brownfields, transportation, energy, water, liquid and solid waste, infrastructure and agriculture. The Sustainability Plan will identify specific linkages across local governments and with community partners to facilitate the implementation of energy and emissions reduction initiatives, particularly as they apply to climate change mitigation and adaptation at the community level. Community consultation is an important component of the initiative. Consultation activities include workshops and meetings as well as informal discussions at local social venues, such as coffee shops, to reach those not typically involved in such initiatives. The initiative will provide a template for developing sustainable community and energy-use planning for multiple communities through a single, cost-effective regional planning process.