Climate Action

Transportation is Sooke’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. By expanding mobility options, we reduce emissions, support active and accessible living, and create a more connected community—for everyone.

• Expanding sidewalks, trails, and pathways that support walking, rolling, and cycling
• Supporting transit and carpooling opportunities
• Installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations
• Encouraging connected neighbourhoods that bring daily needs closer to home

Co-benefits: Cleaner air, greater accessibility, reduced fuel costs, and a more connected, active community.

The way we design and construct our homes and buildings determines how much energy we use—and how comfortable and resilient our spaces are. Provincial regulations, including the BC Building Code, BC Energy Step Code, and Zero Carbon Step Code, set the framework for improving energy efficiency and lowering emissions across new and renovated buildings.

In Sooke, we also apply FireSmart principles and promote green infrastructure and water-wise landscaping to build homes and neighbourhoods that are efficient, adaptive, and in harmony with the natural environment.

Co-benefits: Lower energy bills, durable housing, reduced wildfire risk, and improved comfort year-round.

The District plans for growth within the framework of provincial legislation, such as the Small-Scale, Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) requirements, and in alignment with the Capital Regional District’s Regional Growth Strategy (RGS). These frameworks help ensure that growth in Sooke supports regional sustainability, housing diversity, and responsible infrastructure investment.

At the local level, the Official Community Plan (OCP) guides how land is used and developed, while the Zoning Bylaw provides the detailed regulations that bring those policies to life. Together, these planning tools shape how and where density occurs—aligning new development with available transportation, water, and sewer infrastructure to support sustainable, well-serviced neighbourhoods.

As our community grows, the District continues to address the challenges of transportation and mobility, investing in active, accessible and diverse transportation options. At the same time, we’re strengthening business attraction, retention, and development to bring more jobs closer to home—helping Sooke transition from a bedroom community to a self-sufficient community, where the rainforest meets the sea.

Co-benefits: A stronger local economy, reduced commuting emissions, complete neighbourhoods, and the preservation of Sooke’s natural and cultural identity.

The District embeds climate action into every part of operations.

Sooke’s approach follows the Low-Carbon Resilience (LCR) model, developed through research by Simon Fraser University’s Adaptation to Climate Change Team (ACT) and the Climate Risk Institute. This model emphasizes that climate mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) and climate adaptation (preparing for climate impacts) are most effective when pursued together. By integrating these two objectives into municipal planning, the District ensures that every investment—whether in buildings, roads, parks, or services—contributes to both a lower-carbon and more resilient future.

In practice, this means:

• Reducing emissions from municipal buildings, fleet, and operations through energy efficiency, electrification, and waste reduction.
• Incorporating climate risk assessments into asset management, infrastructure design, and financial planning to anticipate long-term impacts and costs.
• Embedding resilience thinking across all departments to ensure climate considerations are part of daily decision-making.
• Reporting annually through the Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) and participating in community-wide reporting in collaboration with the CRD Climate Action service, which occurs every other year.

The LCR model also recognizes that every climate action brings multiple co-benefits—from cleaner air and lower energy costs to improved public health and community wellbeing. By applying this lens, the District ensures that climate leadership aligns with fiscal responsibility, operational sustainability, and the values of residents.

Co-benefits: Accountability, cost savings, long-term asset protection, and strong public trust through evidence-based decision-making.

Building resilience means building relationships. Collaboration is at the heart of Sooke’s approach to climate action—because lasting change happens when people, organizations, and governments work together toward shared goals.

The District works in partnership with the T’Sou-ke Nation, the Capital Regional District (CRD), community organizations, schools, and volunteers to strengthen local capacity and foster a culture of connection and care for place. Through these relationships, the community can better respond to challenges and celebrate collective progress.

This includes:

• Partnering with the T’Sou-ke Nation and regional partners on shared climate priorities, ecosystem restoration, and emergency preparedness.
• Supporting community programs such as FireSmart, WildWise, and Ready Sooke that empower residents to take action at home and in their neighbourhoods.
• Sharing learning and stories through engagement, education, and events that connect people to the land and to one another.

By working together, Sooke builds social cohesion—the foundation of a community that can adapt, recover, and thrive in the face of change.

Co-benefits: Stronger social connections, empowered residents, increased local pride, and a shared sense of stewardship for the place we call home.

The Official Community Plan (OCP) establishes long-term land use policy and integrates climate action into community design and infrastructure planning.

In alignment with provincial legislation under the Local Government Act, the OCP includes community greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets, along with policies and actions to help achieve them. These targets guide how Sooke plans for compact, complete, and energy-efficient growth—linking land use decisions with transportation planning, infrastructure investment, and building design to lower emissions over time.

The Transportation Master Plan (TMP) integrates active, accessible, and low-carbon mobility options that make it easier for people to move around Sooke in ways that are efficient and sustainable.

Guided by Complete Streets principles, the plan supports the design of transportation networks that serve all users—whether walking, rolling, cycling, driving, or taking transit. It emphasizes connectivity between neighbourhoods, schools, parks, and the town centre, ensuring that investments in roads and pathways also advance the District’s emission-reduction and accessibility goals.

The Parks and Trails Master Plan (PTMP) guides how Sooke’s parks and trail networks are planned, developed, and maintained to support community wellbeing, recreation, and connection to nature. It identifies opportunities to expand and enhance neighbourhood parks, improve accessibility, and strengthen trail connections between residential areas, schools, and the town centre. 

The plan also emphasizes collaboration with community partners to protect natural spaces and promote stewardship. By investing in accessible green spaces and active mobility routes, the PTMP helps build a healthier, more connected, and climate-resilient community.

The Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan strengthens preparedness, response capacity, and FireSmart practices across neighbourhoods.

The Agricultural Plan promotes food security, regenerative practices, and care of farmland as part of Sooke’s climate resilience strategy.

The Emergency Management Plan builds community capacity to respond to and recover from emergencies through coordinated preparedness and response.

The Climate Adaptation and Natural Hazard Risk Assessment (CANHRA) identifies local climate hazards—such as flooding, landslides, and heat events—to guide adaptation priorities and investments.

The plan is currently under development, with a draft expected in mid-2026, and will help the District better understand risks and integrate resilience measures into infrastructure planning, land use, and emergency management.

Walk, roll, take transit, or carpool when possible. Reducing single-occupant trips helps cut emissions, ease congestion, and keep our community connected.

Explore energy-saving rebates and retrofit programs through CleanBC and local utilities. Upgrading insulation, windows, or heating systems lowers energy bills and emissions.

Reduce wildfire risks by creating defensible space around your property, managing vegetation, and choosing fire-resistant materials. Learn more at firesmartbc.ca.

Participate in community clean-ups, tree-planting events, or invasive species removals. These hands-on projects restore habitats and strengthen local pride.

Attend a workshop, join a neighbourhood association, or take part in District engagement sessions to share ideas and stay informed.

Visit letstalk.sooke.ca/sooke2030 for updates on projects, opportunities to participate, and stories of local climate action in Sooke.