Whitehorse Sustainability Plan
The Whitehorse Sustainability Plan comprises 12 goals that describe what our community wants to achieve in the long term. It includes specific strategies that support ambitious but achievable targets for 2020, 2030, and 2050. Read more below, download the full Sustainability Plan (PDF), the summary infographic, and the Ideas for Action.
Read the 2018 Monitoring Report.
A moderately more dense and livable city, especially downtown, with all neighbourhoods having access to low-impact transportation, diverse services and varied housing options.
We are working towards:
- Livable neighbourhoods
- More people living downtown and close to downtown
Efficient movement of people via transit, cycling, walking, and multi- and single-occupant vehicles.
We are working towards:
- People choosing active transportation, transit, and carpooling over single occupant vehicles
- Maintaining the current density of vehicles on roads
Clean air, water, and soil; healthy habitat; and a sense of wilderness.
We are working towards:
- Better air quality
- Using less water
- Keeping a high quality of drinking water
- Maintaining or increasing wilderness areas and regional parks area
- Fewer conflicts between humans and wildlife
Reduce environmental impacts of private and City-owned buildings and infrastructure.
We are working towards:
- Better energy efficiency of new and retrofitted City buildings• Higher efficiency standards for all buildings
- Managing infrastructure, buildings, and natural assets in an asset management system
Increased renewable energy, reduce GHG production and operational cost savings.
We are working towards:
- Producing renewable energy by the City of Whitehorse
- Reducing GHG emissions by the City of Whitehorse
- Fewer per capita and total GHG emissions in Whitehorse
Rich and diverse visual arts, built heritage, cultural landscapes, and community activities.
We are working towards:
- Higher participation in local arts, culture, heritage, and First Nation initiatives
Programs and initiatives to equitably provide for basic needs of the entire community.
We are working towards:
- Fewer households spending more than 30% of their income on shelter
- Narrowing the income gap between the richest and poorest citizens
- More programs and projects that address low-income citizens
Citizens are involved in decisions that affect them; act as stewards of the environment; and are connected and responsible to each other, the environment, and their government.
We are working towards:
- More active and engaged community associations
- Increasing City partnerships
- Increasing volunteerism
- More opportunities for public participation
- Greater engagement with hard-to-reach audiences
Physical and mental health and safety from hazards such as fire, crime, and traffic.
We are working towards:
- Decreasing the population with chronic illnesses
- Greater use of trails, pathways, and commuter routes
- Fewer traffic accidents
- Less graffiti and vandalism
- Decreasing fire department callouts
A stable, diverse economy that is resilient to global change and features a strong labour force, a healthy municipal corporation, and a supportive environment for entrepreneurs and local businesses.
We are working towards:
- Implementing the Local Economic Development Strategy
- Maintaining a long term financial plan for the City of Whitehorse
- Raising the Northern Economic Diversity Index score
- More businesses in Whitehorse
Minimize waste generation and maximize resource recovery through reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting.
We are working towards:
- Diverting more waste through strategies outlined in the Solid Waste Action Plan
Production, processing, distribution, and sales of local, healthy food to all residents.
We are working towards:
- Increasing consumption of local food
- More community garden plots
- More finished compost produced by the City
Get Involved
All citizens have a role to play in moving towards our goals and targets, and the City has a special responsibility in helping us make choices towards sustainability. For more information about how you and your organization can be involved, please contact us at Environment@whitehorse.ca.
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