EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe (100×150)
“Green infrastructure changes improve the health of our waters while creating local jobs, saving communities money and making them healthier and more prosperous places to raise a family and start a business.”
The Green Bylaws Toolkit explains how to use a myriad of tools—from planning to regulatory bylaws—to protect wetlands, grasslands and other important ecosystems in British Columbia.
The purpose of this document is to provide the reader with a broad-brush picture of “Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia”, published in 2002. The emphasis is on core concepts. The desired outcome is that readers will be interested to learn more by delving into the Guidebook.
Because the Ministry of Community Services and Fisheries and Oceans Canada are on the Steering Committee for the Green Infrastructure Partnership, the Beyond the Guidebook Seminar in Novmber 2007 provided a timely opportunity to inform local government and land use practitioners regarding the emerging policy framework and senior government expectations for applying a 'Beyond the Guidebook' approach to land development and watershed management. A key message was: today's expectations are the standards of tomorrow.
'Runoff' is the newletter for the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Water Resources Association. The April 2008 issue included an article about the launch of the “new Water Balance Model”. The article highlighted several key messages regarding the significance and relevance of integrating the Water Balance Model with QUALHYMO to achieve provincial policy objectives.
The District of Lantzville partnered with the Town of Qualicum Beach, the Town of Gibsons, the Village of Cumberland, the Ministry of Community Services and leaders in the field of low impact development to ensure that the Model Bylaw and standards reflected the most up-to-date, progressive thinking.
We get energy from water, and we use energy to supply, treat and use water. Water use involves significant energy inputs which must be considered. The solutions to water and energy management issues require that decision-makers, policy leaders, and the public better understand the relationship between water and energy and take the necessary steps to ensure the sustainable supply and use of these resources.
The Ministry of Community Services' mandate is to promote sustainable, livable communities that provide healthy and safe places for British Columbians. The Ministry implements this mandate by providing the legislative, policy and governance framework for local governments; and providing advice and resources to local governments to plan for sustainable development and address issues related to communities' social, economic and environmental well-being.
West Coast Environmental Law is BC's legal champion for the environment. Through legal advice, education and advocacy, West Coast provides citizens and organizations with the knowledge, tools and innovative solutions needed to protect our environment and build sustainability locally, nationally and internationally.
The “Green Infrastructure Guide: Issues, Implementation Strategies and Success Stories” provides guidance on how local governments may, using legal and policy strategies, encourage or require more sustainable infrastructure designs. It refers readers to strategies, and highlights case studies of local governments that have already taken steps to incorporate a green infrastructure approach. The focus is on implementation mechanisms, issues and barriers, and on what lessons have been learned from experiences to date.
