The Pacific Northwest has long been viewed as a pioneering region in adopting sustainable development practices. Back in the early to mid-1990’s, these principles were carried out by fledgling coalitions such as Sustainable Northwest, established in 1994 within a charter that “envisions an economy and society where people, communities and businesses refuse to sacrifice the good of the land for the good of the people, or the good of the people for the good of the land—finding a new path which honors both. We are committed to a human community working together—able to think beyond itself to embrace the entire biological community and from one generation to many.”

These precepts continue to prevail to this day in the Pacific Northwest and, in fact, have become even more urgent and resolute—not only through the efforts of Oregon-based Sustainable Northwest but other coalitions in the region. One of the centerpieces of Sustainable Northwest is the creation of a “vibrant community” that fosters and celebrates healthy people and biodiversity, and the linkages between them.

In this spirit, vibrant communities continually invest in capacities, institutions and partnerships that protect, restore and enhance natural, social and economic capital, Sustainable Northwest decrees.  

Vibrant communities actively monitor and disseminate status and trends, and share knowledge and know-how. They promote inclusive, collaborative, stakeholder-driven planning and adaptive action in response to changing conditions and knowledge, and they prefer local products and services that result in triple-bottom-line profits.

Such is the progressive philosophy throughout the Pacific Northwest, a mentality that’s washed over the entire region...not unlike a fresh stream cascading down from the foothills and mountains. How so? In the northern sector of the region—in British Columbia—the objective is not just to be green—but to be the “greenest place on earth.” The effort is not being advanced by lip service, either. The proof is in legislative mobilization, spearheaded by Premier Gordon Campbell, who introduced legislation geared to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—doing so by adopting California’s tough tailpipe emission standards for vehicles. The premier disclosed his green initiatives, promising legislation to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions 33% below current levels—by 2020. Premier Campbell also said a specially appointed climate action team will look at how that target will be reached.

Premier Campbell offered legislation to make B.C. the first province in Canada to legally cap greenhouse gas emissions within an undisclosed carbon trading system. Among other initiatives, Campbell said his government would introduce legislation requiring all public sector organizations, including schools and Crown corporations, to be carbon neutral by 2010.

Undisclosed brownfields
Although no specific inventory exists today, it is estimated that British Columbia has between 4,000 and 6,000 brownfield sites. Using estimates from comparable-scale jurisdictions elsewhere, the number of brownfield sites in B.C. could be even higher.

Examples of high-profile B.C. brownfield redevelopment projects that have received national attention include Vancouver’s Pacific Place and Victoria’s Dockside Green. The Sea-to-Sky corridor linking Vancouver to Whistler includes two large-scale contaminated site remediation projects that have been underway for some time: Britannia Mine and the former Nexen Chlor-Alkali plant in Squamish. Following a four-year, $40-million cleanup, the Squamish site is poised for redevelopment as part of this community’s Smart Growth evolution.

The spotlight will shine brightly on B.C. in 2010 when the Winter Olympic Games commence. The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) is the first Olympic oversight committee to apply sustainability principles and practices. Many of the sites chosen as Olympic venues are “on the leading edge of sustainable development,” said Alan McCammon, member of the management team for the Land Remediation (Contaminated Sites) Section of B.C.’s Ministry of Environment. VANOC has pledged that any new Olympic developments will avoid environmentally sensitive and undisturbed natural areas. “In some circumstances, this means cleaning up and reusing brownfield sites,” said McCammon.

Progressive Portland
Down the coastline, Portland, Ore., continues to reinforce a reputation that’s abundant with green spaces and urban wilderness, with a prevailing sustainable constitution that perceives Portland as “an incubator” for progressive urban planning, environmentally conscious public policy, and the sustainable development movement.

There are several case examples: Through a grant with the Climate Trust, Portland is retiming traffic signals at 81 intersections to reduce fuel consumption by 470,000 gallons of gasoline per year and decrease carbon dioxide emissions by more than 4,000 tons per year. Its “smart” parking meters are solar powered, accept credit cards, and stand one per block. A sticker is issued for each vehicle and is transferable to other spaces.

Portland is the birthplace of car-sharing, all within Portland’s Flexcar initiative, where members enjoy access to a fleet of vehicles located throughout the metro area. Replacing an estimated six cars on the road, Flexcar is used by local residents as a timeshare approach to driving—enabling the riverfront to be reclaimed for parkland and public uses.

Portland has also been named the most “walkable” and “bikeable” city in the country, blending preservation and progress in such a harmonious fashion, where what’s old becomes new again using “sustainable building practices.” The city is so bicycle-friendly that cyclists receive priority on roads, as motorists are more than accommodating. In fact, 5,000 people commute to work by bicycle. There are 246 miles of developed bikeways, including 289 miles of bicycle boulevards and 156 miles of bike lanes.