New Website on Green Directions Vaughan Points to Eco-Friendly Future
Vaughan has launched a new website section to update residents on the progress of the City’s environmental programs and initiatives. The list of accomplishments of Green Directions Vaughan, the City’s Community Sustainability and Environmental Master Plan, can be found here.
Approved by Council in April 2009, Green Directions Vaughan contains a set of goals and objectives designed to incorporate more sustainable practices into City’s operations and community planning and guide Vaughan toward a more eco-friendly future. It established sustainability as the guiding principle for future growth, as well as an environmental ethic to guide decision-making on City-led projects.
The plan identifies six goals: reduction in waste and the use of natural resources, sustainable land development. an enhanced public transit network, City leadership on sustainability issues, creation of vibrant communities, and an internal support system to implement the plan. Some of the major advances over the past year include:
- Adoption of a new Official Plan focused on sustainable growth and development
- Completion of a Vaughan District Energy Feasibility Study to reduce energy on a community basis
- Strategies to attract and retain green businesses in Vaughan
- Sustainability guidelines planning for development projects
- Continued implementation of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan
- An Employee Education Strategy to establish a corporate culture of sustainability
- Partnerships with non-profit and volunteer groups to meet the community’s social, cultural and recreational needs