Choosing our Future:
From Vision to Action
When applied to our actions and decision-making, we believe these principles will lead us in the direction of a more sustainable, resilient and livable region:
To ensure that our communities are resilient and that we can sustain our ecosystems and quality of life for generations to come, we will consider the long-term implications of our actions and decisions and prepare ourselves for changes to come.
While the sustainability and livability of our communities is important, we will not forget that our actions and choices have impacts elsewhere, and we will act accordingly. While we recognize that we will continue to be part of a global community, we will work towards greater self-reliance as an important facet of resilience in the face of change.
We recognize that there is no reasonable substitute for many of nature’s services, such as purifying water, cleaning air and providing renewable resources. Therefore, we will live within the Earth’s capacity to support us with resources and to absorb our waste. We will live off the interest of natural capital rather than deplete it.
Each decision will reflect an understanding of the interconnections among the economy, society, culture and environment. We will design systems and structures that achieve multiple objectives.
We recognize the inherent value of every person and the value of diverse perspectives. We will support opportunities for all residents to lead healthy, creative, and fulfilled lives.
We will pay attention to how human and natural systems work and collaborate with one another to develop shared solutions. We will reward and recognize those businesses and individuals who work towards a more sustainable community.
Building upon the principles, our goals describe our long-term aspirations and collectively make up a vision for a sustainable, livable, resilient National Capital Region. We recognize that we will not achieve these goals overnight but we will work diligently towards them, making sure that each decision moves us in the right direction.
Our communities are healthy, safe, secure, accessible, and inclusive places, where all residents have the opportunities required to enjoy a high quality of life and be involved in community life.
Wealth is generated with a fraction of today’s material and energy throughput and with respect for the limits of planetary ecosystems and resources. The region’s economy supports regional self-reliance, good jobs for residents, and contributes to a high quality-of-life for all residents. Residents and businesses also support responsibly-produced goods and services from around the world.
Ethnic diversity, artistic expression, and distinctive cultural heritage are supported and valued, contributing to a strong sense of place, identity, inclusivity and meaning. The culture of the region reflects a strong ethic of community and sustainability.
The region continues to fulfill its traditional ecological functions, supporting connected habitats, regulating water and nutrient cycles, and providing food and shelter to all species living in the region. Residents value biodiversity and ecosystem health and understand the interconnectedness between humans, other species, and the ecosystems in which we all live.
All voices in the region are heard, and each resident has the opportunity to collaborate and help set shared directions that are open, informed, and characterized by accountability and equity. As a region we can make decisions effectively and efficiently while fostering a shared sense of ownership and pride in our collective sustainability journey. We are a model for other regions and we share our knowledge openly in the hope that others will learn from our progress.
The region is carbon neutral in that greenhouse emissions are reduced to the point where they can be absorbed (sequestered) by its ecosystems and technologies. The region has also ensured that it can adapt to deal with the impacts of climate change.
Energy is used efficiently and responsibly in the region and comes from a diverse portfolio of resources that are renewable, low-impact, and contribute to local economic development. The region also manages demand for energy through community planning, transportation initiatives, and building design.
Through careful land use planning, the need to travel long distances has been greatly reduced because jobs and most of our daily needs are provided in complete, livable communities. Transportation networks are well-connected between and within communities, minimizing environmental impacts, moving residents and goods safely, efficiently, and affordably, and encouraging social interaction. Residents choose walking, cycling and transit and mobility is enhanced by electronic communications, good planning and urban design.
Waste is reduced to the point where it can be managed in the region without compromising human and ecological health. The use of virgin materials is greatly reduced because waste is used as a resource (recycled) wherever possible.
Regional water demand and management is consistent with the region’s available water resources and meets the needs of ecological systems and other species. Wastewater and pollution are managed effectively so that the region’s water supports natural aquatic ecosystems as well as our needs for fresh drinking water.
A variety of housing options provide affordable, attractive and accessible choices for all residents. This range of housing choices exists within every community and allows people of various abilities and incomes to live in a community throughout various life stages. Housing is energy-efficient, healthy, and attractive, and uses sustainable building materials and practices.
The region’s farmers, working on a well-protected, highly productive land base, produce a great variety of foods using diverse, sustainable practices. While residents consume food from outside the region as well as modest amounts from urban areas, the region’s farms and the local food system provide residents and businesses with a high-quality, healthy, and affordable supply of food.