The report looks at the potential for infrastructure financing mechanisms to contribute to smart growth. Each of the mechanisms has its advantages and disadvantages, success factors and barriers to success and may be applicable in specific circumstances. The report examines all of these issues in the context of specific case studies and draws some more general conclusions as to which mechanisms appear to have the most promise in Canada.
This PICS paper explores how BC communities can produce less carbon while adapting to climate change impacts.
The paper looks at the role that sustainable communities can play in achieving long-term climate change mitigation and adaptation goals, and the short- to medium-term actions needed to ensure that this potential is realized.
The City of Coquitlam Green Development Guide provides an explanation of five key green development topics; highlights green development practices applicable to development conditions within Coquitlam; can be used to facilitate discussions regarding sustainable development; and is a potential resource for development projects:
The purpose of the Green Bylaws Toolkit is to provide local governments (municipal and regional) and the public with practical tools for protecting green infrastructure. It includes bylaw language that local governments in BC are now using to protect ecosystem health and explains the various legal approaches to protection, their benefits and drawbacks.
Town of Gibsons explores managing the natural capital using infrastructure and financial management concepts that are systematically applied to managing engineered assets. The rationale is that the natural services provided by these systems have tangible value to the community as, or more, effective as engineered infrastructure.
The guide provides an introduction to community gardens and offers background information designed to help local governments understand the benefits and challenges of community gardens.
It also provides some practical tools and templates that can be used or adapted by local governments summarizes the report, makes recommendations for further work, and offers a variety of resources related to community gardening.
Develop with Care 2014: Environmental Guidelines for Urban and Rural Land Development in British Columbia has been prepared for use by local governments, the development community, landowners and environmental organizations as a comprehensive guide to maintaining environmental values during the development of urban and rural lands. The guide sets out the program priorities of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, the Ministry of Environment, and other provincial and federal agencies, promoting ways to retain and create environmental function and resilience as communities grow.
The guide features: