Transcript Governance for Sustainable Development: As if it Mattered?

Sustainability Planning: A Checklist for
Communities
Sustainability Planning: Linking to
Practical Applications
The Planning Context
Have you given thought to the overall context for a sustainability
plan? There are three key imperatives - the environmental, the
social and the economic perspective. For further information see:
• http://sustainablecommunities.fcm.ca/home/
Have you considered the appropriate time-frame for a
sustainability plan? Thinking 20 years out is a starting point, but
several municipalities have successfully used 50 to 100 year time
frames. Longer planning frameworks typically lead to more
comprehensive and more integrated approaches. For reference,
try:
• http://www.communitycasestudies.crcresearch.org/node/99
Is there a regional sustainability plan in place? If so, how will your
plan align with it?
Some Key Questions
Are you considering growth limits for your municipality?
What overall approach do you want to take with respect to sustainable
planning e.g. New Urbanism, Smart Growth, the Natural Step? For
further information try:
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http://www.cnu.org/
http://www.smartgrowth.ca/home_e.html
http://www.naturalstep.ca/
Do you intend to integrate your plan with those of neighbouring
municipalities?
Do you intend to integrate all municipal policies, plans and programs
into the plan, and what are you going to do about ‘grandfathering”?
Information Requirements
What are the perspectives of key stakeholders within your
community with respect to the environment and climate change?
Do you have population forecasts for your community?
Have you estimated what would have to be spent to replace the
current infrastructure within your municipality?
Have you considered what might constitute the major bottlenecks
to your municipality over the next fifty years e.g. Can you continue
to supply water or even mass transit at present growth rates?
Have you identified key indicators and developed baseline data,
especially with respect to growth and the environment?
Public Consultations
Have you considered how and when to engage the local community?
How can you ensure representation from diverse groups and
perspectives? For approaches to this, try:
•http://www.communityplanning.net/
What tools will you use to encourage participation in and input to
planning, as well as to disseminate information? Have you considered
techniques such as e-dialogues? Refer to:
•http://e-dialogues.royalroads.ca/index.htm
Implementation
Do you have a planning model to start with? Try:
• http://www.crcresearch.org/PlanningTool.pdf
Have ongoing and effective partnerships been formed within the
municipality and amongst its citizens? For useful techniques see:
• http://www.peopleincharge.org/index.htm
• http://www.futuresearch.net/
• http://www.greenmap.com/
Will the plan be supported with appropriate and enforceable
bylaws? Consider the approaches used at Okotoks, Alberta, and
Mont-St-Hilaire, Quebec at:
• http://www.okotoks.ca/
• http://www.communitycasestudies.crcresearch.org/hilaire
Additional Resources
For further information and resources on energy saving investments
try the comprehensive resources section at:
•http://sustainableinfrastructure.crcresearch.org/resources.html