Building on the success of its sustainability efforts, Surrey has released an updated Sustainability Charter 2.0. The refreshed and updated document acts as a roadmap to grow the city with a viable sustainable vision with a focus and sensitivity to long-term impacts.
The Surrey Sustainability Charter 2.0, approved by City Council at last night’s regular council meeting, is based on the three pillars of sustainability and organized around eight interconnected community themes which include: Built Environment and Neighbourhoods, Ecosystems, Infrastructure and Culture, Health and Wellness. More information on the Surrey Sustainability Charter 2.0 can be viewed here.
“The Surrey Sustainability Charter 2.0 is our vision for a thriving, green, inclusive city looking ahead to the next forty years,” said Mayor Linda Hepner. “As the overarching policy document for the City, the Charter guides our actions and importantly, outlines desired outcomes for our community based on the input of our residents and stakeholders.”
“For over eight years Surrey has been a leader among municipalities in sustainability, with such innovative initiatives like our Sustainability Dashboard. The updated Sustainability Charter 2.0 addresses central and connected issues such as inclusion, economic stability, growth, and climate change”, said Councillor Mike Starchuk, Chair of the City’s Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee.
Building on the collaborative nature of the strategy, the new Charter encourages community stakeholders to align with the desired outcomes and strategic directions under each theme to advance their own services, policies and programs. The Sustainability Charter 2.0 also includes revised indicators and targets to measure success, which will be showcased on the new City Dashboard being built later this year. The Dashboard will also highlight the City’s ISO 37120 certification, the international standard for measuring the sustainable development of cities, which is currently in process.
