Victoria Sustainability Framework
We are committed to working towards a community that is environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable.
The Victoria Sustainability Framework (VSF) was developed in partnership with the community and sets the tone for sustainability in Victoria. It has informed the development of the Official Community Plan and the Corporate Strategic Plan, and will continue to inform City operations, policies and initiatives, and plans.
Victoria Sustainability Framework
Sustainability Commitment
Victoria, as a community and municipal corporation, is an urban sustainability leader inspiring innovation, pride and progress towards greater ecological integrity, livability, economic vitality, and community resiliency as we confront the challenges facing society and the planet today and for generations to come.
A. ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY DOMAINThis refers to the ability to sustain and renew the health of the natural environment and its ongoing capacity to produce resources necessary to urban life.
1. Land Management
a) Land Development: Victoria has compact, human-orientated development patterns that use land efficiently.
b) Natural Diversity and Habitat: Biodiversity thrives in Victoria's urban environment, including urban forests, and public and private green spaces.
a) Land Development: Victoria has compact, human-orientated development patterns that use land efficiently.
b) Natural Diversity and Habitat: Biodiversity thrives in Victoria's urban environment, including urban forests, and public and private green spaces.
2. Waste & Materials
a) Solid Waste: The waste stream to the regional landfill has been reduced to a minimum, with recovery, reuse, recycling and composting of materials undertaken as standard practice.
b) Liquid Waste (sanitary): Efficient and effective liquid waste management protects human health and the natural environment and makes use of resource potential.
c) Materials: durable and sustainable building materials, including those that are local, green, and healthy are promoted and used.
a) Solid Waste: The waste stream to the regional landfill has been reduced to a minimum, with recovery, reuse, recycling and composting of materials undertaken as standard practice.
b) Liquid Waste (sanitary): Efficient and effective liquid waste management protects human health and the natural environment and makes use of resource potential.
c) Materials: durable and sustainable building materials, including those that are local, green, and healthy are promoted and used.
3. Water
a) Potable Water: Victoria's healthy, clean and high-quality drinking water is used in a thrifty way and maintained through generations.
b) Rainwater: Rainwater resources are carefully managed with collection, diversion, and re-use practices that moderate runoff volumes and maximize water quality.
c) Aquatic Ecosystems: Victoria's Harbour, coastline, ponds and streams support healthy populations of fish and other marine life.
a) Potable Water: Victoria's healthy, clean and high-quality drinking water is used in a thrifty way and maintained through generations.
b) Rainwater: Rainwater resources are carefully managed with collection, diversion, and re-use practices that moderate runoff volumes and maximize water quality.
c) Aquatic Ecosystems: Victoria's Harbour, coastline, ponds and streams support healthy populations of fish and other marine life.
4. Climate Change, Energy & Air
a) Building Energy & GHG Emissions: Building and their component systems are energy efficient, produce few greenhouse gases and have good air quality for occupants.
b) Transportation Energy & Air Contaminants: Transportation options reduce fossil fuel dependence, help conserve energy and produce low greenhouse gas emissions and other air contaminants.
c) Energy supply: Victoria relies on clean, renewable, and efficient energy sources.
a) Building Energy & GHG Emissions: Building and their component systems are energy efficient, produce few greenhouse gases and have good air quality for occupants.
b) Transportation Energy & Air Contaminants: Transportation options reduce fossil fuel dependence, help conserve energy and produce low greenhouse gas emissions and other air contaminants.
c) Energy supply: Victoria relies on clean, renewable, and efficient energy sources.
B. LIVABILITY AND SOCIAL WELL BEING DOMAIN
This refers to the socio-cultural dimensions of the community that sustains quality of life, celebrates self and community, and addresses human health, and overall well-being
1. Housing
a) Housing Affordability: All residents have access to appropriate, secure, affordable housing.
b) Housing Diversity: A wide range of housing types, tenures and prices gives residents choices.
a) Housing Affordability: All residents have access to appropriate, secure, affordable housing.
b) Housing Diversity: A wide range of housing types, tenures and prices gives residents choices.
2. Mobility & Accessibility
a) Mobility: Victorians move freely and efficiently via a safe, integrated and convenient network of public transit, bike routes, and a supportive, inviting pedestrian realm in preference to driving alone.
b) Accessibility: Services, amenities, buildings, facilities, and public space are accessible.
a) Mobility: Victorians move freely and efficiently via a safe, integrated and convenient network of public transit, bike routes, and a supportive, inviting pedestrian realm in preference to driving alone.
b) Accessibility: Services, amenities, buildings, facilities, and public space are accessible.
3. Education / Learning
a) Lifelong Learning: Lifelong learning opportunities that are culturally appropriate are available for diverse learners of all ages and income levels.
b) Formal Education: high quality, affordable formal education is available and accessible for students of all ages.
a) Lifelong Learning: Lifelong learning opportunities that are culturally appropriate are available for diverse learners of all ages and income levels.
b) Formal Education: high quality, affordable formal education is available and accessible for students of all ages.
4. Health and Well Being
a) Poverty: All Victorians have income and access to public services to be able to flourish and live with dignity.
b) Health, Care, Wellness and Harm Reduction: Victorians are healthy and have a network of health related amenities, facilities and programs to promote wellness and meet the needs of all levels of mental and physical care.
c) Recreation: Victoria is an active community where everyone enjoys convenient access to community parks, open spaces, facilities, amenities and programs close to home.
a) Poverty: All Victorians have income and access to public services to be able to flourish and live with dignity.
b) Health, Care, Wellness and Harm Reduction: Victorians are healthy and have a network of health related amenities, facilities and programs to promote wellness and meet the needs of all levels of mental and physical care.
c) Recreation: Victoria is an active community where everyone enjoys convenient access to community parks, open spaces, facilities, amenities and programs close to home.
5. Sense of Community
a) Social Interaction: Victorians know their neighbours, are connected to communities of interest and have diverse opportunities for social interaction.
b) Inclusion: Victoria is a place where all people come to live, work and play, regardless of age, ethnicity, religion, culture, income, sexual orientation, ability and family status.
c) Heritage: Victoria's cultural and natural heritage resources are protected and celebrated.
d) Arts, Culture and Entertainment: Victoria is a place where artists are able to thrive and where people from all walks of life enjoy formal and informal opportunities to create and enjoy the arts, culture, and entertainment activities.
e) Vibrancy: Victoria is vibrant with a sense of place, urban design, and beauty.
a) Social Interaction: Victorians know their neighbours, are connected to communities of interest and have diverse opportunities for social interaction.
b) Inclusion: Victoria is a place where all people come to live, work and play, regardless of age, ethnicity, religion, culture, income, sexual orientation, ability and family status.
c) Heritage: Victoria's cultural and natural heritage resources are protected and celebrated.
d) Arts, Culture and Entertainment: Victoria is a place where artists are able to thrive and where people from all walks of life enjoy formal and informal opportunities to create and enjoy the arts, culture, and entertainment activities.
e) Vibrancy: Victoria is vibrant with a sense of place, urban design, and beauty.
6. Food Systems
a) Local Food Supply: Nourishing, safe food that supplies most of Victoria's daily needs is sustainability grown, processed and packaged in the city, in surrounding agriculture areas, and on Vancouver Island.
b) Education and Skills: Victorians have access to skills and knowledge to grow their own food in urban areas.
a) Local Food Supply: Nourishing, safe food that supplies most of Victoria's daily needs is sustainability grown, processed and packaged in the city, in surrounding agriculture areas, and on Vancouver Island.
b) Education and Skills: Victorians have access to skills and knowledge to grow their own food in urban areas.
7. Governance
a) Accountability: Corporate and community decision-making processes are defensible, clear and open to the public.
b) Community Engagement: Victorians are interested, informed, empowered and involved in their communities and the process of democratic governance.
c) Monitoring: The city and its partners monitor and report progress so that we can learn and adapt as needed.
a) Accountability: Corporate and community decision-making processes are defensible, clear and open to the public.
b) Community Engagement: Victorians are interested, informed, empowered and involved in their communities and the process of democratic governance.
c) Monitoring: The city and its partners monitor and report progress so that we can learn and adapt as needed.
C. ECONOMIC VITALITY DOMAIN
This refers to the ongoing capacity to generate and renew the skills, finances and systems of exchange and production that enable quality of life and community aspirations
1. Economic Development
a) Economic Development: Victoria generates most of its economic growth, through innovation, entrepreneurship and new business formation, while continuing to attract and retain new, sustainable enterprises well-suited to the region.
b) Downtown and Harbour: Victoria's bustling downtown and harbour is a prominent centre for business, government, arts and culture on Vancouver Island.
c) Neighbourhoods: Neighbourhoods become centres of economic development which serve the needs of residents within walking, wheeling or cycling distance.
d) Tourism: Victoria is a premier international tourism destination and gateway to Vancouver Island.
e) Employment: A broad range of employment opportunities exist across the city and region providing workers with income to financially support themselves and their families.
f) Infrastructure: Victoria's well-maintained infrastructure and facilities meet the needs of residents and business utilizing best management practices.
g) Research & Development: Victoria contributes to global knowledge, produces and attracts talented researchers, incubates innovation, and brings new goods and services to market.
h) Training & Development: Victorians have the knowledge and abilities to support a vibrant regional economy and the capacity to creatively adapt to economic change.
a) Economic Development: Victoria generates most of its economic growth, through innovation, entrepreneurship and new business formation, while continuing to attract and retain new, sustainable enterprises well-suited to the region.
b) Downtown and Harbour: Victoria's bustling downtown and harbour is a prominent centre for business, government, arts and culture on Vancouver Island.
c) Neighbourhoods: Neighbourhoods become centres of economic development which serve the needs of residents within walking, wheeling or cycling distance.
d) Tourism: Victoria is a premier international tourism destination and gateway to Vancouver Island.
e) Employment: A broad range of employment opportunities exist across the city and region providing workers with income to financially support themselves and their families.
f) Infrastructure: Victoria's well-maintained infrastructure and facilities meet the needs of residents and business utilizing best management practices.
g) Research & Development: Victoria contributes to global knowledge, produces and attracts talented researchers, incubates innovation, and brings new goods and services to market.
h) Training & Development: Victorians have the knowledge and abilities to support a vibrant regional economy and the capacity to creatively adapt to economic change.
2. Finance
a) Financial Management: City finances are managed responsibly, incorporating a triple bottom-line and full life cycle cost perspective in spending and investment decisions.
b) Revenue: City income supports municipal services that meet current priorities and investment for the future while ensuring stable and equitable property taxes to residents and businesses.
a) Financial Management: City finances are managed responsibly, incorporating a triple bottom-line and full life cycle cost perspective in spending and investment decisions.
b) Revenue: City income supports municipal services that meet current priorities and investment for the future while ensuring stable and equitable property taxes to residents and businesses.
D. RESILIENCY DOMAIN
This refers to the ongoing ability to keep residents safe, to adapt to changes and to plan for an uncertain future.
1. Security
a) Safety: Victoria is a safe city, where everyone feels secure in public, in their homes and workplaces.
b) Resources Security: Victorians can rely on significant local sources for food, energy and materials to meet daily needs and under emergency conditions.
c) Human Capacity: Victorians can support themselves and their neighbours in difficult times.
a) Safety: Victoria is a safe city, where everyone feels secure in public, in their homes and workplaces.
b) Resources Security: Victorians can rely on significant local sources for food, energy and materials to meet daily needs and under emergency conditions.
c) Human Capacity: Victorians can support themselves and their neighbours in difficult times.
2. Adaptive Capacity
a) Proactive Preparation: Victoria is prepared to deal with known hazards and emerging threats, to limit the adverse impacts of events, and effectively manage emergencies.
b) Response & Recovery: Victoria is able to respond rapidly and effectively to all emergencies, including events with long impacts and recovery times.
a) Proactive Preparation: Victoria is prepared to deal with known hazards and emerging threats, to limit the adverse impacts of events, and effectively manage emergencies.
b) Response & Recovery: Victoria is able to respond rapidly and effectively to all emergencies, including events with long impacts and recovery times.
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