Sustainability - An Overview
What Is Sustainability?
Sustainability is...
...an attempt to provide the best outcomes for the human and natural environments both now and into the indefinite future.
Sustainable development is...
...development that "meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (Brundtldand Report, 1987)
Sustainability means...
...balancing social, economic and environmental factors.
Principles of Sustainability
Despite differences, a number of common principles are identified to achieve sustainable development or community sustainability. These include:
- Dealing transparently and systemically with risk, uncertainty and irreversibility.
- Ensuring appropriate valuation, appreciation and restoration of nature.
- Integration of environmental, social, human and economic goals in policies and activities.
- Equal opportunity and community participation/Sustainable community.
- Conservation of biodiversity and ecological integrity.
- Ensuring inter-generational equity.
- A commitment to best practice.
- No net loss of human capital or natural capital.
- The principle of continuous improvement.
- The need for good governance.
From: Hargroves, K. and M. Smith (Eds.) 2005. The Natural Advantage of Nations: Business Opportunities, Innovation and Governance in the 21st Century. ISBN 1-84407-121-9, 525 pages. Earthscan/James&James.
Where do Local Governments Fit In?
Local governments deliver a variety of services to citizens and are the level of government in most regular contact with the tax payers. Accordingly, local governments are well positioned to:
- Incorporate and implement appropriate practices and standards into services and operations
- Articulate sustainability principles to the public
- Raise the level of public awareness
- Promote sustainable behaviour and shape future communities
The role played by local governments was a major theme of the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, where 179 countries finalized a global action plan for sustainable development. The action plan, called Agenda 21, advocated for the importance of local government in achieving sustainable development:
"Because so many of the problems and solutions being addressed by Agenda 21 have their roots in local activities, the participation and cooperation of local authorities will be a determining factor in fulfilling its objectives. Local authorities construct, operate and maintain economic, social and environmental infrastructure, oversee planning processes, establish local environmental policies and regulations, and assist in implementing national and subnational environmental policies. As a level of governance closest to the people, they play a vital role in educating, mobilizing and responding to the public to promote sustainable development.”
Partnerships
Partnerships are a key to implementing sustainability at the community level. While individually, organizations may have limited resources and influence, as a coordinated group organizations are able to leverage each others' strengths and compensate for each others weaknesses in order to achieve results that would not be possible alone.
The Sunshine Coast Regional District is committed to developing strong, meaningful and lasting partnerships with other governmental and non-governmental organizations, funding agencies, businesses and institutions. Such partnerships further support local advocacy for environmental stewardship, resource conservation, and community sustainability. Partnership examples include:
Public-Private Partnerships
The SCRD's Bathroom Fixture Replacement Program is a public-private partnership between the Regional District and Sustainable Solutions International to provide residents and businesses of the Sunshine Coast with high efficiency bathroom fixtures and installation services at no charge. By partnering with the distribution company, the SCRD was able to make this program cost effective by purchasing fixtures at bulk rates and leveraging economies of scale to reduce installation fees.
Partnerships with Community Groups
The SCRD has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to provide a source of funds for affordable housing projects on the Sunshine Coast. In return, Habitat for Humanity volunteers collect and return refundable containers left at the SCRD recycling depots and at the Sechelt Landfill. In 2005 and 2006, Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast won the Alcan Builds on Recycling award for the top per capita recycler of used aluminum beverage cans in Canada. The group was awarded $60,000 towards its low income housing projects on the Sunshine Coast.
Partnerships with Canada and British Columbia
The SCRD partnered with the B.C. Ministry of Transportation to complete an Integrated Stormwater Management Planning study for selected rural areas on the Sunshine Coast. The goal of the project is to develop stormwater management standards and guidelines that can be incorporated into the development approval process. Existing stormwater management problem areas are also being identified and corrective measures are being recommended.
The federal and provincial governments have partnered with the SCRD and provided funding for a number of major capital projects and planning studies, including:
• Construction of the Chapman Creek Drinking Water Treatment Plant
• Multiple water main extensions and smaller drinking water treatment systems
• Landfill gas projects
• Infrastructure feasibility studies
• Bike trails and walking paths
Green Shores
The Green Shores approach was developed in response to interest by local planners, civic officials, land developers, and property owners who participated in public workshops based on Coastal Shore Stewardship: A Guide for Planners, Builders and Developers, published by the Stewardship Centre for British Columbia as part of its Stewardship Series. Currently, there are Green Shore projects being undertaken in Roberts Creek and West Howe Sound on the Sunshine Coast.
CMHC Sustainable Planning for Small Communities Series
The Sustainable Planning and Development for Small Communities is a workshop series designed specifically for municipal decision makers — people responsible for community planning and development. The workshop lays a solid conceptual foundation and at the same time provides practical approaches and decision-making tools to help participants engage in successful sustainable development.
Sunshine Coast Habitat Atlas
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (F&OC), has created a Habitat Atlas for the Sunshine Coast. The Habitat Atlas is a series of maps, covering the extent of the SCRD; from Langdale to Egmont and north past the top of Jervis Inlet. Each page of the Atlas contains a map illustrating a number of features, including: streams, roads, trails, land parcels, fish and wildlife habitat, parks and protected areas, watershed boundaries, and aerial photographs. Over 40 different categories or “layers” of information have been collected. Each layer is stored on computer in a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) database at the SCRD office in Sechelt.
