Local Roots of Sustainability

Michael R. Edelstein, Ph.D.

(Physical) Place

• Ecological Integrity

• Connectedness

• Knowledge– Bedrock– Plants– Animals– Water– History

Community Setting

• Nodes• Districts• Pedestrianism• Sociopedality• Organizations• Activities and Events• Public Spaces, Commons• Safety• Ammenities

Community Attributes

• Pride

• Norms for Appearance

• Groups and Cliques

• Homogeneity

• Scale ---the ascendancy of villages

NIMBY

• Local Defense of Place and Community• Threats to quality of life• Threats to Environment• Threats to Values• Threats to economic value• Threats unite some people and separate others• New sense of community can be developed and

new place identification learned through the process of the environmental battle.

Reaction vs. Proaction

Fighting the bads---win/lose

vs.

Inviting the goods—win/win but compromise

CONSTRAINTS PERSPECTIVE

POTENTIALS PERSPECTIVE

Indicators of Sustainability• Energy conservation and the shift to renewable energy• Green, building• Affordable and accessible housing • Avoidance of new and addressing of existing

environmental hazards (i.e.: air quality and contamination issues) and provision of sufficient infrastructure

• Materials cycling (reduce, reuse, recycle, composting, etc.),

• Low entropy mobility (i.e.:mass transit, ride sharing, pedestrianism and bike paths, local services and mixed uses, road congestion, etc.)

• Open space preservation, including the topics of critical ecological areas, wildlife corridors (ecological design and landscape), civic spaces, park and recreation access, trails, and greenbelts and greenways and farmland preservation

INDICATORS of SUSTAINABILITY 2

• Food and the working landscape (local food and sustainable agriculture practices, keeping farmers farming and growing new farmers, farmers markets, CSA, community gardening, edible landscape, etc.)

• Sustainable local economies and viable low impact businesses

• Community cohesion, participation, celebrations and diversity

• Connection to place• Connection to history• Natural capital• Social capital• Good environmental, mental and nutritional health

Environmentally, a sustainable community…

Nurtures and protects earth processes required for healthy survival, including clean water and air, productive soil, and diversity of life.

It minimizes pollution and greenhouse gasses and introduction of non-native and invasive species.

It builds the equivalent of energy star and LEED-rated buildings and communities.

It protects its critical environmental systems such as wetlands, habitat and wildlife corridors.

Riparian ways and waterfronts would be restored and protected,

To the three Rs of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, SPIA adds Renew, Regenerate and Restore.

Economically, a Sustainable Community…

Promotes local food, livelihoods, services, amenities and commerce,

Minimizes waste and over-consumptionMaximizes efficiency, Relies on local renewable rather than

imported depletable energy, Keeps wealth local Values and protects both ecosystem

services and social capital.

Socially, a Sustainable Community is one that…

Promotes equity, diversity, cohesiveness, belongingness, mutual support, safety, stability and opportunities for participation,

Is child and elder positive, Builds community character and place attachment,Protects scenic and cultural features, Minimizes stress and maximizes health and quality of life. It is centered rather than sprawled, walkable rather than

drivable and affordable rather than exclusive. And it promotes life long and mutual individual and social

learning.