Social:Eco-municipality
- "Eco-municipality" has a specific meaning. For a more general discussion of the sustainability of cities, see Sustainable city.
An eco-municipality or eco-town is a local government area that has adopted ecological and social justice values in its charter. The development of eco-municipalities stems from changing systems in Sweden, where more than seventy municipal governments have accepted varying principles of sustainability in their operations as well as community-wide decision-making processes.[1] The purpose of these policies is to increase the overall sustainability of the community.
Large scale social movements can influence both community choices and the built environment. Eco-municipalities may be one such movement.[2] Eco-municipalities take a systems approach, based on sustainability principles. The eco-municipality movement is participatory, involving community members in a bottom-up approach.
The distinction between an eco-municipality and other sustainable development projects (such as green building and alternative energy) is the focus on community involvement and social transformation in a public agency, as well as the use of a holistic systems approach. An eco-municipality is one that recognizes that issues of sustainability are key to all decisions made by government. [3]
History
In 1983 the Övertorneå community of Sweden first adopted an Eco-municipality framework, followed by a formal organization in 1995 (SEKOM).
Framework
In becoming an eco-municipality, cities or towns typically adopt a resolution, based on the Natural Step framework (or Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD)), which sets the following objectives:
- Reduce dependence upon fossil fuels.
- Reduce dependence upon synthetic chemicals.
- Reduce encroachment upon nature.
- Better meet human needs fairly and efficiently.[4]
Municipalities adopting framework
Communities in North America, Europe and Africa ranging in size from villages of 300 to cities of 700,000 have become eco-municipalities. In Sweden, over one hundred municipalities have officially become eco-municipalities. They have formed a national association of eco-municipalities to assist one another and work to influence national policy. Whistler, BC, was awarded first place in a United Nations -endorsed international competition for sustainable communities. Its long-term sustainability plan, Whistler 2020, is based on the Natural Step framework.[5]
In Wisconsin, there is a growing eco-municipality movement which began in the Chequamegon Bay region. As of November 2007, twelve local communities had formally adopted eco-municipality resolutions. The resolutions state the community's intention to become an eco-municipality, endorsing the Natural Step sustainability principles and framework as a guide.[6]
In Sweden, more than 70 cities and towns—25 percent of all municipalities in the country—have adopted a common set of "Sustainability Principles" and implemented these systematically throughout their municipal operations. There are now twelve eco-municipalities in the United States and the American Planning Association has adopted sustainability objectives based on the same principles.[7]
See also
- Ecovillage
- Eco-towns
- Green municipalism
- Sustainable city
Notes
- ↑ Miranda Spencer (September 22, 2005) Building Sustainable Cities: Scandinavia's "Eco-Municipalities" Show the Way .sustainablebusiness.com. Retrieved on: November 5, 2007.
- ↑ LaColla, T. "It's Easy to be Green! Eco-Municipalities: Here to Stay" . theplanningcommission.org. Retrieved on: 16 March 2009.
- ↑ Torbjorn Lahti and Sarah James (May 17, 2005) The Eco-municipality Model for Sustainable Community Change: A systems approach to creating sustainable communities . Retrieved on: November 5, 2007
- ↑ Alliance for Sustainability Ashland, WI and Duluth, MN become Sustainable Cities . Retrieved on: February 10, 2008.
- ↑ Sustain Dane Eco-municipalities: Where Are They?. Retrieved on: February 10, 2008.
- ↑ 1,000 Friends of Wisconsin. Eco-municipalities: A Model for Sustainable Communities in Wisconsin. Retrieved on: February 10, 2008.
- ↑ James, S. (2003). "Eco-municipalities: Sweden and the United States: A Systems Approach to Creating Communities". Retrieved on: 16 March 2009.
References
- James, S. and T. Lahti (2004). The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices. Gabriola Island, British Columbia: New Society Publishers. ISBN:0-86571-491-6
External links
- National Association of Swedish Eco-municipalities Website of SEKOM
- Sustainable Sweden Association Website
- The Natural Step Case study TNS case study on North American Eco-municipality Network
- Sarah James Associates Consulting firm working in the field.
- Wisconsin Chapter of the American Planning Association Eco Municipalities links
- 1,000 Friends of Wisconsin page on Eco-Municipalities
- The American Association of Planners policy guide on sustainability.
- Sustain Dane Website on Dane (US)
- Sustainable Lawrence Website on Lawrence (Canada)
- Piscataqua Sustainability Website on Piscataqua (Canada)
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