1. Does US Have An Urban Sustainability Agenda For 21st Century

URBAN AFFAIRS ASSOCIATION
40TH CONFERENCE
UAA 2010

Sustaining Cities in a Time of Globalization:
Social, Economic and Political Realities

March 10 - 13, 2010
Honolulu, Hawaii

Sheraton Waikiki Hotel

Does the United States Have an Urban
Sustainability Agenda for the 21st Century?
A Critical Assessment

Dr. Mirela Newman
Associate Professor, Coordinator Urban Studies Graduate Program
Department of Geography & Urban Studies, School of Arts and Sciences,
Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven CT
Email: newmanm4@southernct.edu

Does the United States Have an Urban Sustainability Agenda
for the 21st Century? A Critical Assessment

Dr. Mirela Newman, newmanm4@southernct.edu
Paper Abstract: At the beginning of the twenty‐first century, over three quarters of the total population
of the United States lives in urban places of various sizes. As urban dwellers we seem to agree that our
cities are our urban affairs, that we care about our cities and want them safer, more desirable and more
sustainable. As our American cities continue to face increasing environmental, social and economic
challenges, scholars, practitioners and decision‐makers continue to search for an agenda that could help
reshape our cities. The author of this paper assesses the current situation and poses several questions.
How can our cities and their urban regions be made more sustainable, livable and desirable? What have
we done so far? Does the United States have a long‐term “urban sustainability” vision and agenda for
the twenty first century? Unlike Europe and European countries, the United States has been slower at
embracing the so‐called “urban sustainability” agenda. The author argues that with no national plan or
national organization in charge with shaping the future shape and wellbeing of our American cities and
towns, in the past three decades our pursuit of urban sustainability has primarily stemmed from local
and regional organizations and levels encapsulated by several movements including: Ecological Cities,
Growth Management, Smart Growth, Livable Cities, New Urbanism, True Urbanism, Sustainable
Development. What do we need to do now? Could we merge our evolving urban sustainability ideas and
concepts and develop a long‐term, comprehensive, holistic urban sustainability conceptual and practical
framework that could guide urban development throughout the United States? The author examines and
critically assesses the progress we have made so far in the United States, highlights the main urban
sustainability principles and tenets and launches several suggestions for policy makers, planners,
scholars and practitioners interested in achieving “urban sustainability in the United States.

GLOBAL FRAMEWORK

THE 21ST CENTURY
URBANIZING WORLD & ITS
CHALLENGES

GLOBAL FRAMEWORK
21ST CENTURY URBANIZING WORLD & CHALLENGES

 More than 50% of the world’s population lives in towns and
cities

 More than 75% of the US population lives in towns and
cities

 Facing unprecedented urban & population growth
 Presents high risks and immense socio-political challenges
 But also offers significant potential for innovative and far-reaching
solutions for our towns and cities

 We need desirable, livable, well- functioning, greener, more
sustainable urban areas - cities and towns

GLOBAL FRAMEWORK
ACKNOWLEDGING OUR COMMON GLOBAL PROBLEMS &
QUESTIONING OUR CURRENT PRACTICES & PATTERNS
 Exponential population growth (+urban population)

 Spatial expansion of cities - Suburban Sprawl

 Growing automobile use & traffic congestion

 Air, water & soil pollution

 Wasteful use of land natural resources

 Rising social & economic inequities

 Loss of indigenous landscapes & ecosystems

UNDERSTANDING THE NEED FOR
URBAN SUSTAINABILITY APPROACHES AND AGENDAS

We and our cities are facing great challenges in this era of
globalization:
 failing global markets
 climate change
 oil and natural gas peaks
 increasing pollution and congestion
 unprecedented population and urban growth
 growing consumption and diminishing natural resources
 environmental degradation and disappearing ecosystems

We have identified several threats and risks, but HOW are we to
implement a successful blueprint for today’s and tomorrow's
greener, more sustainable urban places?

UNDERSTANDING THE REALITY OF THE 21ST
CENTURY URBANIZING WORLD & CHALLENGES

Well-functioning, desirable, livable cities are what we want and
need, and a decisive prerequisite for the economic
development and well-being of any country in the world

Long-term we need to thrive for achieving several goals:

 Maintaining our cities habitable, safe, livable
 Enhancing our traffic networks
 Avoiding environmental and ecological problems
 Minimizing resources waste
 Protecting and saving our limited natural resources

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

PRINCIPLES AND TENETS

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

URBAN SUSTAINABILITY

THE “SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT” CONCEPT

 Fueled by 1960s & 1970s environmentalism

 Supported by publications on global urban and
environmental problems:

 “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson (1962)

 “The Closing Circle” by Barry Commoner (1971)

 “The Limits to Growth” (1972)

THE “SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT” CONCEPT

 FIRST UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT
&DEVELOPMENT (Stockholm, 1972)

 WORLD WATCH REPORTS (1975-on)

 BRUNDTLAND REPORT or World Commission on
Environment and Development(1987)
“Our Common Future ( Brundtlandt Report, 1987)

 RIO DECLARATION - AGENDA 21 (1992)
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT &
DEVELOPMENT (UNCED)

1992 RIO DE JANEIRO: EARTH SUMMIT - AGENDA 21
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT & DEVELOPMENT
(UNCED)

Delegates from over 170 countries discussed and produced:

 treaties on climate change and biological diversity

 a set of forestry principles

 an extensive plan called:

AGENDA 21 FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
( now and into the 21st century)

within Agenda 21 was a proposal to develop
indicators for sustainable development

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT-Definition

“ development that meets the needs of
the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs”

(Brundtland Commission, 1987)

“SUSTAINABILITY”
CONCEPT & TERM

“SUSTAINABILITY” & “SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT”

Concept was born in the 1970s

As a result of growth of a new consciousness on global
ecological & environmental problems related to ongoing
patterns of industrial development

Term “SUSTAIN” has old Latin roots: “sub” + “tenere”
means “to uphold”
“to maintain”
“to keep”
Used in English since 1290

URBAN AREAS

Urban Areas are:

 limited spaces, densely populated, evolving, changing

 Were/are founded for different purposes

 Industrialization
 Migration
 Mass car ownership
 Economic restructuring

 political entities

 biggest consumers and polluters

 economic and administrative players

URBAN AREAS

 concentrate people, capital and knowledge, buildings,
infrastructure, functions

 centralize capital and prosperity

 foster social and economic development

SUSTAINABLE URBAN AREAS

 Urban Areas are not merely problem producers

 Urban Areas must become “sustainable urban areas”

 Sustainable Urban Areas need support & investment:

 Political Support

 Financial Investment

 Civic Commitment

DIMENSIONS OF URBAN SUSTAINABILITY
Requires an integrated, holistic, long-term,
innovative approach

 Governance dimension – decision making

 Legislative dimension – justice, regulation

 Planning dimension – spatial, land use, design

 Financial and risk management dimension

 Monitoring dimension

 Innovative dimension

AN URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA

 Requires a HOLISTIC, INTEGRATIVE,
INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
 INTEGRATION of elements that need to be more sustainable

“URBAN SUSTAINABILITY” CONCEPT
Citizen
City
Social Cultural
City City

Market Built
City URBAN City
SUSTAINABILITY

Eco Govern
logical mental
City Historical City
City


MAIN PAPER QUESTIONS


QUESTIONS

How can our American cities and their urban regions be
made more sustainable, livable and desirable?

What have we done so far in the United States?

Does the United States have a long‐term “urban
sustainability” vision and agenda for the twenty first century?

US IN THE 21ST CENTURY

AMERICAN URBANIZATION PATTERNS
AMERICAN CITY MODEL

UNDERSTANDING THE REALITY OF THE 21ST
CENTURY AMERICAN CITY MODEL

Unlike the European cities our American urbanization processes are characterized
by:

 Urban sprawl
 Low density, waste of land and resources
 Flow of superhighways, shopping centers, baking asphalt
 Huge parking lots, long commutes, traffic congestion
 Commercial strip development –roads lined with shopping
 Leapfrog development: subdivisions, shopping, office parks
 Single use development: segregation of land uses
 Long distances to travel
 Dysfunctional inner city areas – poverty, drugs, …
 Municipal budgeting struggles

We seem to be less prepared for greener, sustainable development


UNITED STATES CONTEXT

2009 US CONGRESS FINDINGS
FACTS AND TRENDS

United States Context
2009 US Congress Findings: Facts and Trends

US PATTERN OF METROPLITAN GROWTH
CONSUMES LAND AT A FAST PACE

1980-2000:

growth of largest 99 metropolitan areas consumed 16
million areas of rural land (1 acre/new household)



SUBURBAN SPRAWL
RAPID EXPANSION OF
CITIES & METROPOLITAN
AREAS
LAND CONSUMING
PATTERN OF GROWTH
NORTH EAST & EAST US

A SPRAWLING PATTERN OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT: LOS
ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Sprawl Destroys
Farmland

Between 1982-1992, the
U.S. lost an average of
45.7 acres
of farmland per hour,
every day.
4,000,000 acres in total!

Source: American Farmland Trust

RETHINKING OUR CURRENT PRACTICES
CAN WE ALLOW FOR OUR CITIES TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND
SPATIALLY, TO SPRAWL?

 Metropolitan growth  Slowing down
urban sprawl
 Land Use
 Searching for
 Resource Use “smarter ways”
to use and
protect land
 Infrastructure uses and
development resources

2009 US Congress: Facts and Trends

US POPULATION IS GROWING AND
AGING

By 2025: 1 in 5 people will be 65 or older


TRANSPORTATION SECTOR CONSUMES
OIL,POLLUTES AND IS COSTLY

•Transportation accounts for 70% of the oil consumed
in US

•Nearlya third of carbon emissions come from
transportation sector

•Burden of transportation costs is very heavy
especially for low-income residents

We’re Driving Ourselves Crazy

Number of miles we 25% increase in last
drive 10 years

Time we spend in 236% increase
traffic since 1982

Money lost in time
and fuel over $100 billion


DRIVING AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION

According to Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy:

 Driving projected to increase 59% (2005-2030)

 In 2007 traffic congestion caused Americans to:

 Waste 4.2 billion hours in traffic

 Purchase an extra 87 million gallons of fuel

 Price of congestion cost $87 billion

This is a 5-fold increase in wasted time and cost since 1982

Sprawl
Creates
Traffic
Congestion


DEMAND FOR MORE TRANSPORTATION CHOICES -PUBLIC TRANSPORT

According to US Census Bureau:

 only 54 % of households have access to public transportation

Demographic groups most likely to use public transport are
projected to increase in size (2009-2025)

We need more
Transportation Choices


DEMAND FOR MORE DENSE, WALKABLE, MIXED-USE
HOUSING

Demographers estimate that:

•30% of current demand for housing is for dense,
walkable, mixed-use communities

DOES THE UNITED STATES HAVE AN
URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA
FOR THE 21ST CENTURY?

A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT


QUESTIONS

What does US need to do in the 21st century?

Could US “merge” all of our evolving urban sustainability
ideas, concepts, approaches, organizations ?

Could US develop a long‐term, comprehensive, holistic urban
sustainability vision and agenda by fusing the conceptual
and practical framework to date and thus guide urban
development throughout the entire United States?


Unlike Europe and European countries,
the United States has been slower at
embracing the so‐called “urban
sustainability” agenda [at the national level]


The United States has no national
plan or national policy in charge
with shaping the future shape and
wellbeing of our American cities
and towns


“BOTTOM UP” UPPROACH & GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT

In the past three decades our pursuit of urban sustainability has
primarily stemmed from local and regional organizations and
levels encapsulated by several movements including:

 Ecological Cities
 Growth Management
 Smart Growth
 Livable Cities
 New Urbanism
 True Urbanism
 Sustainable Development

US Approaches and Organizations in the Past 2 Decades

Sustainable Ecological Green Livable
Cities Cities Cities Cities

Livable
Ecological Green
Sustainable Communities
Cities Plans
Plans

Green True Sustainable
New
Urbanism Urbanism Urbanism
Urbanism

Responsible
Growth
Sustainable Smart Growth
Management
Development Growth


Since February 19, 2009 United States has a

WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF URBAN AFFAIRS

--established within the Executive Office of the President
the White House Office of Urban Affairs (the "Office").


WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF URBAN AFFAIRS

“About 80 percent of Americans live in urban areas, and the economic health and
social vitality of our urban communities are critically important to the prosperity
and quality of life for Americans………………………………………………………………..
……….. In the past, insufficient attention has been paid to the problems faced
by urban areas and to coordinating the many Federal programs that affect our
cities. A more comprehensive approach is needed, both to develop an effective
strategy for urban America and to coordinate the actions of the many executive
departments and agencies whose actions impact urban life.”

Source: The White House, Executive Order, Office of the Press Secretary, Feb 19 2009


FUNCTIONS OF OFFICE OF URBAN AFFAIRS
(a) provide leadership for and coordinate the development of the policy agenda
for urban America across executive departments and agencies;

(b) coordinate all aspects of urban policy;

(c) work with executive departments and agencies to ensure that appropriate
consideration is given by such departments and agencies to the potential impact
of their actions on urban areas;

(d) work with executive departments and agencies to ensure that Federal
Government dollars targeted to urban areas are effectively spent on the highest-
impact programs;

(e) engage in outreach and work closely with State and local officials, with
nonprofit organizations, and with the private sector,

THE CALL FOR “GREENING” OUR THINKING
and for URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AGENDAS

For any citizen of this planet, for any urban dweller, practicing
professional planner, decision maker, politician, etc.. the entry point is
to “GREEN” OUR THINKING.

For national governments the entry point is to shape /have an
URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL

WHAT SHOULD US NATIONAL GOVERNMENT DO?

 Further research, survey, discuss, and learn from
national and international successful, innovative Green
Sustainable Urban Programs, Initiatives, Planning and
Policies;

 Compare and contrast International and American
urban experiences, initiatives, successes & failures;

 Understand how green sustainable urban plans are
designed and implemented.

THE UNITED STATES SHOULD CREATE A SOLID,
INTEGRATED URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA
US needs to further:

 Examine and understand the complex urban challenges and
problems

 Shape a long term vision and strategy on urban
sustainability

 Pursue innovative, comprehensive, integrated, holistic
approaches to urban planning and urban management

 Have good integrated urban management, city, regional and
national leadership


THE US NATIONAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD
APPOINT A NATIONAL COMMISSION/TASK
FORCE TO:

collect integrate fuse

Syn
merge distill
thesize

summarize present implement


MERGE /INTEGRATE ALL PRINCIPLES, APPROACHES, PRACTICES
PROMOTED BY US ORGANIZATIONS THAT EVOLVED IN PAST 3
DECADES

Sustainable Ecological Green Livable
Cities Cities Cities Cities

Livable
Ecological Green
Sustainable Communities
Cities Plans
Plans

Green True Sustainable
New
Urbanism Urbanism Urbanism Urbanism

Responsible
Growth
Sustainable Smart Growth
Management
Development Growth


WORK CLOSE WITH APA AND TO USE All APA POLICY GUIDES
adopted and supported by the American Planning Association
(APA)

Policy Guide Policy Guide Policy Guide
Sustainability Smart Growth Transportation

Policy Guide
Policy Guide Policy Guide
Takings
Public Neighborhood
Redevelopment Collaborative
Planning

Policy Guide
Policy Guide Policy Guide
Impact Fees
Housing Homelessness


APPROVE THE S. 1619 BILL: “LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT 0F 2009”

•THE S. 1619 BILL: “LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT 0F 2009”

• sponsored by Senator Christopher Dodd (CT)

• introduced to US Congress on 08/06/2009


APPROVE THE S. 1619 BILL: “LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT 0F 2009”

•THE S. 1619 BILL: “LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT 0F 2009”
seeks to establish:

• OFFICE OF SUSTAINABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES
(OSHC) – in the Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD)

• Independent INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITIES (in the executive branch)

• COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM

• SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE GRANT PROGRAM


US GOVERNEMTN SHOLD SUPPORT AND APPROVE THE
S. 1619 BILL: LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT 0F 2009

OFFICE OF SUSTAINABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES (OSHC)

-will
establish a program to make comprehensive planning grants and
sustainability challenge grants available to eligible entities


APPROVE THE S. 1619 BILL: LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT 0F 2009


- Coordinate land use, housing, transportation and infrastructure
planning across jurisdictions and agencies

- Identify potential regional partnerships for developing and
implementing comprehensive plans

- Conduct or update housing, infrastructure, transportation, energy
and environmental assessments to determine regional needs and
promote sustainable development

- Develop/update comprehensive regional plans

- Implement local zoning and other code changes


APPROVE THE S. 1619 BILL: LIVABLE COMMUNITIES ACT 0F 2009


Would require the use of a Sustainability Challenge Grant to:

-promote integrated transportation, housing, energy, economic
development activities across jurisdictions

-promote sustainable and location–efficient urban development

-implement projects indentified in a comprehensive regional plan


US NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OR A NATIONAL
GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY SHOULD INTEGRATE ALL
FINDINGS AND PRODUCE A DOCUMENT:

NATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR ACHIEVING URBAN
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE UNITED STATES

Not a policy (which many oppose) but guidelines


PURSUE AN URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA
THAT REQUIRES INNOVATION, VISION AND THE
COORDINATED IMPLEMENTATION OF SPECIFIC
“INGREDIENTS”
 INNOVATION

 “VISION” – long-term

 “SET OF CONCEPTUAL AND PRACTICAL STEPS”

 A SET OF “INGREDIENTS” mixed in a complex, “magic”
FORMULA(?) BUT DOES SUCH A FORMULA EXIST?


BUT:
IS THERE A MAGIC
FORMULA
OR A
PROMOTE CLEAR DEFINITION
FOR SUSTAINABLE
CIITIES
“INGREDIENTS” FOR
SUSTAINABLE
CITIES
???


CREATE TOOLS/MECHANISM THAT EXPAND
THE “URBAN SUSTAINABILITY” CONCEPT
NOT ONLY GREEN/ECOLOGICAL ELEMENTS
More open /green spaces, green parks, bikeways,
wildlife, wetlands, watersheds, ecosystems
BUT ALSO (!)
 Better and more affordable housing
Social justice issues
 Wiser/greener transportation patterns
Environmental issues
 More compact cities versus widely spread cities
Spatial form and land use issues
 Revised energy consumption patterns
Energy/Environment issues
 More sustainable economies
Economic issues
 A better overall urban life
Quality of life issues

“SUSTAINABILITY ” CONCEPT
 Requires a HOLISTIC, INTEGRATIVE,
INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
 INTEGRATION of elements that need to be more sustainable

PROMOTE INGREDIENTS FOR URBAN SUSTAINABILITY

* MORE COMPACT EFFICIENT
LAND USE THAT WOULD SLOW
DOWN URBAN SPRAWL

 UGB = Urban Growth Boundaries
Portland, OR&San Francisco, CA

 Preserve farm land

 Preserve ecological habitats

 Preserve & create open space

 Promote mixed use development

*LESS AUTOMOBILE USE  Average American spends
MORE ALTERNATIVE MODES about 440 hours/year (55
OF TRANSPORTATION days/year) behind the wheel

 Reduce driving time  Cost of traffic congestion in
 Reduce congestion US: $43 to 168 billion/year!!!
 Reduce pollution
HOW?  By 2050, 80% of world’s oil
will be used!!
 Public transit
 Reversible lanes  80% of US petroleum use is
 Employer programs goes to cars
 Congestion pricing 
 High-Occupancy Vehicle  US transportation system
lanes releases nearly 450 mill tons
 Smart cars & smart roads of carbon into atmosphere
 Decrease pollution /year!
 Decrease ecosystem
decrease isolation & social  US contributes 1/3 of annual
fragmentation world total of CO2 = major
greenhouse gas


PROVIDE GOOD HOUSING &
URBAN ENVIRONMENTS

• Build more & better
affordable housing

• Require developers to
include a certain number
of affordable housing units

• Design pedestrian-
friendly, human-scaled
streets & sidewalks

• Access to public spaces &
parks

*MORE GREEN URBAN  Provide UV protection, cool urban
INITIATIVES environment, retain CO2, control
storm water runoff, foster plants
& birds
 Green Roofs
 Planting trees, hedges, plants
 Green streets
 For educational&recreational
 Ecology parks purposes
 Educate students about
 Greener schools environment – more urban
environment courses, students in
planting trees & flowers
 Urban Gardens  Small garden plots rented or
assigned for flowers or
vegetables
 Urban Wildlife & Habitat
conservation


* ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY  We have all seen cities &
communities where
 Cities should have a strong,  capital resources have left;

sustainable economic life by  businesses have closed;
retaining money and resources  storefronts are abandoned;
 “Restoration economy” – one  natural resources have been
which helps restore environmental taken;
& social damage done in the past  jobs are scarce; and
 “Human-centered economy” – products and services are
providing work at decent pay hard to find
 “Locally-oriented economy” – HOW? Phase out industries:
which emphasizes
 local ownership
- Consume large amounts of
 local control & investment non-renewable resources
 Use of local resources - Produce pollutants & toxics
 Production for local markets - Are based on minerals & oils

INGREDIENTS FOR URBAN SUSTAINABILITY

* MORE EFFICIENT RESOURCES USE,
LESS POLLUTION AND WASTE
 Home Energy Service
• Energy conservation programs Program (Massachusetts)
- use of:
fluorescent light bulbs, energy
efficient refrigerators, air  Federal conservation
conditioners, water heaters Programs (MA) -
Massachusetts farmers and
other landowners are
• Farmland conservation
encouraged to apply for
nearly $12.5 million in
federal funding for
• Recycling programs conservation programs
allocated by the US
Department of Agriculture
(USDA) for Massachusetts
• Pollution prevention

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND SOURCES
FOR URBAN, URBAN PLANNING AND URBAN SUSTAINABILITY
 AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION (APA)
http://www.apa.org

 AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION – CONNECTICUT
CHAPTER http://www.ccapa.org

 SUSTAINABLE SITES
http://www. sustainablesites.org

 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF GEOGRAPHERS (AAG)
http://www.aag.org

 LIVABLE CITIES
http://www.livable cities.org

 OUR GREEN CITIES
http://www.ourgreencities.com

 LIVING CITIES
http://www.livingcities.org

 URBANICITY
http://www.lurbanicity.org

 URBANDESIGN
http://www. urbandesign.org
 GREEN PLANS USA
http://www. greenplans.rri.org

 LOW IMPACT LIVING
http://www.lowimpactliving.com

 SMART GROWTH
http://www.smartgrowth.org

 NEW URBANISM
http://www.newurbanism.org

 PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACE
http://www. pps.org

 REGIONAL PLAN ASSOCIATION & METRO PLANNING
ASSOCIATIONS &BOARDS
http://www.rpa.org/
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/architecture/bass/newrochelle/regional_plan/oregon.html
http://www.metro-region.org/ (Portland, Oregon)


CONNECTICUT CONFERENCE OF MUNICIPALITIES
http://www. ccm-ct.org

 CONNECTICUT ECONOMIC RESOURCE CENTER
http://www. cerc.org
 1001 FRIENDS OF CONNECTICUT
http://www. 1001friends of ct..org

 SIERRA CLUB: US SPRAWL, TRANSPORTATION,
CONGESTION, TRANSPORTATION
http://www.sierraclub.org/

Links to Sustainable Livable Cities/Communities

http://www.massland.org/pages/info/lca2003.htm
http://sustaincommunity.org/
http://www.nhcf.org/uploads/reports/1021649919sustainable97.PDF
http://www.vsn.cape.com/~cccenter/2003SIC.htm
http://www.cooplife.com/sustainable.htm
http://sustaincommunity.org
http://clinton4.nara.gov/textonly/PCSD/Publications/suscomm/ind_suscom.html
http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/measuring/meaction.shtml
http://www.tellus.org/sustcomm/CI_sp.html
http://www.tellus.org/sustcomm/PBInitiatives_sp.html
http://www.citnet.org/events/05Dec01-Indicators-Info.aspx
http://www.citnet.org/regions/newengland/resources.aspx
http://www.iscvt.orghttp://www.cedo.ci.burlington.vt.us/legacy
http://www.cleanwateraction.org/ct/index.htm
http://www.sustainablemeasures.com/SM/Staff.html
http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/measuring/meaction.shtml
http://www.sustaincapecod.org/2003SIC.htm

GREEN URBANISM: LEARNING FROM EUROPEAN CITIES.
Beatley, Timothy. 2000. Island Press: Washington D.C.

TEXTS

 GREEN URBANISM: LEARNING FROM EUROPEAN CITIES.
Beatley, Timothy. 2000. Island Press: Washington D.C.

 GROWING GREENER CITIES: URBAN SUSTAINABILITY I THE
TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
Eugenie L. Birch and Susan M. Wachter (Eds.). 2008.
University of Pennsylvania Press: Philadelphia.

Why Do We Care?
Environment Economics Equity Engagement
Air and Transportation Families People
water budgets are finding have less
pollution are fewer choices and less
are larger than in housing time for
threatening food budgets styles, price involvement
human ranges, and in their
health neighborhoods children’s schools
or other
civic
activities

PROMOTE AND SUPPORT UNDERSTANDING THE
“INGREDIENTS” NEEDED FOR ACHIEVING URBAN
SUSTAINABILITY
 Use good land use planning ideas, initiatives and
practices

 Show investment of finances and political and civic
commitment

 Minimize environmental impacts

 Minimize consumption of natural resources and reduce
waste

 Learning from and implementing good ideas, programs
and practices from successful cities and towns around the
world

CAPE COD CENTER FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Regional program

 1998-99 & 2003: initiated and implemented the first ever Sustainability
Indicators Project for Cape Cod

 Resource Use - Acres of Land Developed and Of Land Protected as Open
Space, Waste Generated, Recycled, Composted, Landfilled and Incinerated)
 Transportation & Mobility - Traffic Congestion by Bridge Crossings
 Air & Water Quality - Drinking Water Quality
 Diverse Sustainable Economy - Housing Affordability Gap, Income - Self
Sufficiency Standard, Employment and Payroll by Industry, Tourism
 Health & Human Services - Population Enrolled vs. Not Enrolled In Health
Care Plans, Substance Abuse

 GOALS:
 assess issues critical to Cape Cod and their interrelationship

 produce and distribute a list of indicators to educate the general
public and their elected officials about trends in specific
environmental, social and economic issues, and the need to address
problems from an integrated, long-term perspective

Cape Cod Sustainability Indicators
2003
Report
An Uncertain Future

The Cape Cod Sustainability Indicators Council
Produced in Coordination With
The Cape Cod Center for Sustainability
2003

NEW ECOLOGY, INC. ("NEI")

 founded in 1999 to spearhead sustainable development in
distressed urban communities in New England

 dedicated to the pursuit of environmental quality with economic
development in urban communities

 Recognizing that human communities and the physical
environment are interdependent systems, and that social and
economic health and environmental quality are mutually
reinforcing.

 NEI seeks to change the urban development system

 NEI has helped influence public policy to support sustainable
development

WESTERN MASS SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

 Conserving Our Forests - Local Activities

 The New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) is developing a
five-year community forestry initiative in the North Quabbin
region, a nine-town area in north-central Massachusetts at the
northern end of the protected Quabbin Reservoir watershed.

 The North Quabbin Woods Project is designed to enhance the
economic, social, and ecological health of the region
through improved utilization of forest resources

 Supported by the Ford Foundation as part of their National
Community Forestry Demonstration Program, it takes an
integrated approach to community development. targeting
to improving the economic and social health of the community

URBAN SUSTAINABILITY
WHAT CAN I/ YOU/WE DO?

 Think long-term: “Green Thinking” what and how we do now
matters 50 -100 years down the road!

 Preserve natural resources – they are limited and will be
exhausted! Stop driving those “cool” SUV’s!

 Question our current urban development patterns

 Do we really need a huge house on a large size lot (say 3 to 5
acres)? SMALLER HOUSES & LOTS HELP PRESERVE LAND

 Could we consider taking alternating driving with car pooling
and taking public transit – when available?
DRIVING = SPENDING MONEY = POLLUTION = TRAFFIC
CONGESTION

1. Does US Have An Urban Sustainability Agenda For 21st Century

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