As BC's Northern Capital, the City of Prince George is committed to preserving the environment for the community of today and into the future. Our City depends upon the environment, the land on which we live, the air we breathe, and the water we drink.
The City of Prince George understands that people are part of the environment, and that a healthy environment is inextricably linked to the well-being of our community.
All people have the right to live in a healthy environment, including:
- the right to breathe clean air
- the right to drink clean water
- the right to consume safe food
- the right to access nature
- the right to know about pollutants and contaminants released into the local
- environment
- the right to participate in decision-making that will affect the environment
Within its jurisdiction, the City of Prince George has certain authority to respect, protect, fulfill and promote these rights and commits to encouraging the respect, protection, fulfillment and promotion of these rights.
Consistent with commitments articulated in myPG and the OCP, the City of Prince George will apply the precautionary principle: where threats of serious or irreversible damage to human health or the environment exist, the municipality shall take cost effective measures to ensure that the right to a healthy environment is considered when decisions are made.
The City of Prince George shall commit to the use of the best and latest available science to ensure that the right to a healthy environment is protected and are considered when decisions are made. The City of Prince George shall continue to improve upon and include in the community's long term integrated sustainability plan and the Official Community Plan, clear objectives, targets with timelines and actions that will be taken, within its jurisdiction, to fulfill residents' right to a healthy environment, including these priority actions:
1. Ensure infrastructure and development projects take the environment into consideration, including air quality.
2. Ensure the City of Prince George continues to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing adaptation measures.
3. Ensure responsible growth and development throughout the City and where possible consider compact energy efficient infill development to improve population density and to maximize the use of existing infrastructure.
4. Prioritise walking, cycling and public transit as preferred modes of transportation.
5. Ensure adequate infrastructure for the provision of safe and accessible drinking water.
6. Encourage a culture of and access to local, healthy foods.
7. Develop resiliency and be best prepared to handle environmental processes (e.g. wildfire/floods).
8. Continue to work with the Regional District of Fraser Fort George to reduce solid waste production and promote recycling and composting.
9. Establish and maintain accessible green spaces in residential neighbourhoods.
10. Include the municipality's progress on fulfilling residents' rights to a healthy environment in the City's annual public report.
The City of Prince George shall review the objectives, targets, timelines and actions every five years, and evaluate progress towards fulfilling this declaration.