Future Implications

Choosing our Future will make the National Capital Region more aware of:

The limits of our environment and natural resources, making our society more capable of dealing with constraints in the long-term
Social changes, making our society more capable of dealing with changing needs in a proactive manner
Economic shifts, making our society more capable to position itself competitively over the long-term
Natural and social disasters facing us in the long-term, making our society more capable of withstanding and recovering from these events
Community and municipal action that can contribute to the mitigation of climate change.

Some examples of sustainable practices that Choosing our Future will try to integrate into everyday operations:

Land will be planned for employment, housing, and other uses so that the number and length of car trips is reduced
Energy and material resources will be used as efficiently as possible
Natural systems - those forests, fisheries, agricultural and range lands, and water resources adjacent to or impacted by urbanization – will only be used in ways consistent with their continued health and productivity
Our standard of living and quality of life will be improved by emphasizing goods and services that minimize resource consumption and environmental impact
Dependence on vulnerable sources of supply of critical raw materials, such as fossil fuels, will be systematically reduced. For example, switching to modes of transportation that reduce greenhouse gas emissions like electric-powered light rail

AT180660