1. ASSESSING LOCAL GOVERNMENT
SUSTAINABILITY
RIO+20 UN CONFERENCE ON
SUSTAINABILITY
Wayne Feiden, FAICP (via videoconferencing
• Planning Director, Northampton, MA USA
• Assessing Local Government Sustainability, American
Planning Association, PAS Report
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
2. How do we assess sustainability
if we can’t agree on what it is?
…meet the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations…
UN Bruntland Commission, 1983
…where {the environment can} …support no more
individuals without a …continuing decline…
Aldo Leopold, 1933 (carrying capacity)
…we must consider the impact of our decisions on
the next seven generations.
Iroquois Nations (date unknown)
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
4. EEnnvviirroonnmmeenntt
PPllaanneett
EEqquuiittyy
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Development
CONFLICT
Property
CONFLICT
Resource
CONFLICT
EEccoonnoommyy
PPrrooffiitt
Planners mediate
Scott Campbell, 1996ons of
Sustainable Development.” JAPA
First do no harm.
links and trade-offs
Hecht, 2007
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
5. Three way
Ying Yang?
Equity
Economy
Environment
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
6. In Operation Terms?
Not just Energy and LEED
First LEED Gold KFC/Taco Bell
(car-oriented non-durable building)
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
7. Operation Terms
Good Planning Stuff
Balance (first do no harm)
Healthy urban centers
Placemaking
Source: Urban Edge Studio
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
8. Operation Terms
Resiliency
Beichuan, Wenchuan, Sichuan Earthquake
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
10. OPERATION TERMS
TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY
Community Conversation matters
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
11. Assessment Challenges
What is sustainability in local context
Accountability to local community
National or international norming
Whose agenda?
Assessment resources
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
12. Indicators (story telling time)
Easy to understand
Tells a story
Engages
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
13. Indicators
White Sneakers
Minneapolis Sustainability Indicator
Boston Indicator Project
Genuine Progress Indicator
UN Commission on Sustainable Development
UN Habitat Urban Indicators
US Interagency Working Group on Sustainable
Development
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
14. Benchmarking and Metrics
Santa Monica: Sustainable City Report Card
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
15. Massachusetts Commonwealth Capital
(2003-2011)
Plan for and promote livable communities 14%
Zone for concentrated development & mixed use 19%
Expand housing opportunities 14%
Increase job and business opportunities 8%
Protect land and ecosystems 15%
Use natural resources wisely 5%
Promote clean energy 8%
Make transportation choice 6%
Advance equity 4%
Other sustainable development actions 8%
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
18. Footprinting
Carbon and environmental footprint calculators
Educational
Ideally test scenarios
Clinton Climate Initiative (40 megacities)
Greenhouse gas emissions
Social cost one ton CO2=$43
New house in Houston $500> than San Francisco
Suburban Boston $200> Central Boston
Source: Glaeser and Kahn, 2008
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
19. Comprehensive Instruments
Multiple criteria
LEED Neighborhood Development
Who decides
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
20. Comprehensive Instruments
ICLEI Star Communities
aims to be the gold standard
third party, credible, and market acceptance
national standard and comparisons
Not customized or community buy-in
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
21. Unscripted & Ad-Hoc Assessments
Isn’t this what most of us do?
No formal metrics or assessments
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
22. Context is everything
Hopi nation
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
23. Context is everything
Austin,
Texas
Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP
