Sustainable community
Encyclopedia
Sustainable communities are communities
planned, built, or modified to promote sustainable living
. This may include sustainability aspects relating to reproduction
, water, transportation, energy, and waste and materials. They tend to focus on environmental sustainability
(including development
and agriculture
) and economic sustainability
. Sustainable communities can focus on sustainable urban infrastructure
and/or sustainable municipal infrastructure.
has a stunning environment which is important to the community and attracts close to 1 million visitors each year. Throughout the Kaikoura community, the value in looking after the environment, for the community
, the tourists and the next generation, has become increasingly important - Green Globe
provided a framework to reduce the environmental impact of the community and the visitors.
Green Globe is a tool used by Kaikoura's community to measure and work towards reducing its impact on the environment.
To become certified the environmental impact is measured each year (also known as benchmarking
). Annually they calculate 12 indicators, which include the amount of energy used in the District, amounts of [greenhouse] gas and waste produced, and 9 other indicators (for benchmark results in 2003/2004, 2004/2005, 2005/06 and 2006/07).
By measuring the impact they are having - they can manage it and work to reduce the negative effects. The Council has adopted an Environmental & Social Sustainability Policy and every day activities focus on leading the community towards sustainability.
: "Sustainable communities are places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life. They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer equality of opportunity and good services for all."
The agenda sets out a long term plan to combat the under supply of homes in the South East and over supply of void or low demand properties in the Midlands and North.
It has also formed the Academy for Sustainable Communities
.
"could become a model for sustainable communities worldwide" according the The Atlantic magazine who also called it the United States' "most ambitious smart growth project".The Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies
is a small scale example of a sustainable community for students at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
.
peace research center is one of the biggest communities in Europe which is aiming to create a model of sustainable life on earth.
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
planned, built, or modified to promote sustainable living
Sustainable living
Sustainable living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual's or society's use of the Earth's natural resources and his/her own resources. Practitioners of sustainable living often attempt to reduce their carbon footprint by altering methods of transportation, energy consumption and diet...
. This may include sustainability aspects relating to reproduction
, water, transportation, energy, and waste and materials. They tend to focus on environmental sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
(including development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
and agriculture
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment...
) and economic sustainability
Sustainable business
Sustainable business, or green business, is enterprise that has no negative impact on the global or local environment, community, society, or economy—a business that strives to meet the triple bottom line. Often, sustainable businesses have progressive environmental and human rights policies...
. Sustainable communities can focus on sustainable urban infrastructure
Sustainable urban infrastructure
Sustainable urban infrastructure is a term used to describe infrastructure that facilitates a place or regions progress towards the goal of sustainable living...
and/or sustainable municipal infrastructure.
New Zealand
KaikouraKaikoura
Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 1 180 km north of Christchurch.Kaikoura became the first local authority to reach the Green Globe tourism certification standard....
has a stunning environment which is important to the community and attracts close to 1 million visitors each year. Throughout the Kaikoura community, the value in looking after the environment, for the community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
, the tourists and the next generation, has become increasingly important - Green Globe
Green Globe
Green Globe is based on Agenda 21 principles for Sustainable Development endorsed by 182 Heads of State at the United Nations Rio De Janeiro Earth Summit . Green Globe Certification and Green Globe Asia Pacific deliver separate certification services and standards to the travel & tourism as well...
provided a framework to reduce the environmental impact of the community and the visitors.
Green Globe is a tool used by Kaikoura's community to measure and work towards reducing its impact on the environment.
To become certified the environmental impact is measured each year (also known as benchmarking
Benchmarking
Benchmarking is the process of comparing one's business processes and performance metrics to industry bests and/or best practices from other industries. Dimensions typically measured are quality, time and cost...
). Annually they calculate 12 indicators, which include the amount of energy used in the District, amounts of [greenhouse] gas and waste produced, and 9 other indicators (for benchmark results in 2003/2004, 2004/2005, 2005/06 and 2006/07).
By measuring the impact they are having - they can manage it and work to reduce the negative effects. The Council has adopted an Environmental & Social Sustainability Policy and every day activities focus on leading the community towards sustainability.
United Kingdom
The Government of the United Kingdom defines a sustainable community in its 2003 Sustainable Communities PlanSustainable Communities Plan
The Sustainable Communities Plan was launched in 2003 and is a key policy of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in guiding its regeneration and departmental objectives. It led to the a range of policies and plans which are in effect a spatial plan for the whole of England...
: "Sustainable communities are places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life. They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer equality of opportunity and good services for all."
The agenda sets out a long term plan to combat the under supply of homes in the South East and over supply of void or low demand properties in the Midlands and North.
It has also formed the Academy for Sustainable Communities
Academy for Sustainable Communities
The Academy for Sustainable Communities is a national skills initiative that has been set up by the Department of Communities and Local Government....
.
United States
The Atlanta BeltLineBeltline
The Beltline is a region of central Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The area is located immediately to the south of Calgary's downtown , and is sometimes considered part of downtown...
"could become a model for sustainable communities worldwide" according the The Atlantic magazine who also called it the United States' "most ambitious smart growth project".The Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies
Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies
The John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies, informally called LCRS, is a research facility at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in Pomona, California, United States. Based on regenerative principles of sustainable design and sustainable agriculture the center offers both a...
is a small scale example of a sustainable community for students at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, or Cal Poly Pomona, is a public university located in Pomona, California, United States...
.
Portugal
TameraTamera
Tamera is a peace research village with the goal of becoming “a self-sufficient, sustainable and duplicatable communitarian model for nonviolent cooperation and cohabitation between humans, animals, nature, and Creation for a future of peace for all." It is also often called a “healing biotope." ...
peace research center is one of the biggest communities in Europe which is aiming to create a model of sustainable life on earth.
External links
See also
- Academy for Sustainable CommunitiesAcademy for Sustainable CommunitiesThe Academy for Sustainable Communities is a national skills initiative that has been set up by the Department of Communities and Local Government....
- EcovillageEcovillageEcovillages are intentional communities with the goal of becoming more socially, economically and ecologically sustainable. Some aim for a population of 50–150 individuals. Larger ecovillages of up to 2,000 individuals exist as networks of smaller subcommunities to create an ecovillage model that...
- Green GlobeGreen GlobeGreen Globe is based on Agenda 21 principles for Sustainable Development endorsed by 182 Heads of State at the United Nations Rio De Janeiro Earth Summit . Green Globe Certification and Green Globe Asia Pacific deliver separate certification services and standards to the travel & tourism as well...
Community Standard - Intentional communityIntentional communityAn intentional community is a planned residential community designed to have a much higher degree of teamwork than other communities. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, religious, or spiritual vision and often follow an alternative lifestyle. They...
- Low Carbon CommunitiesLow Carbon CommunitiesLow Carbon Communities is one part of Marches Energy Agency; a leading climate change and sustainable energy social enterprise and a registered charity, based in the West Midlands, England....
- Sustainable livingSustainable livingSustainable living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual's or society's use of the Earth's natural resources and his/her own resources. Practitioners of sustainable living often attempt to reduce their carbon footprint by altering methods of transportation, energy consumption and diet...