Slide 1

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 2

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 3

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 4

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 5

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 6

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 7

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 8

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 9

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 10

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 11

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 12

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 13

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 14

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 15

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 16

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 17

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 18

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 19

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 20

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 21

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 22

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 23

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 24

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 25

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 26

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 27

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 28

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 29

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 30

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 31

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 32

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 33

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 34

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 35

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 36

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 37

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 38

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 39

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 40

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 41

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 42

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

28

Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

30

Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

31

Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
36

Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
40

The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

43


Slide 43

Green Cities:
The Next Urban Design Frontier
SMWM Evening of Green
with Michael Bloomfield
Founder + Executive Director
Harmony Foundation of Canada

02 May 2006
6:00 pm
SMWM
989 Market Street
Third Floor
San Francisco, California (USA)
1

2

Sustainable Community Development
Today’s Presentation
• introduction
• integrating ecology, economy and
social equity
• the role of citizen participation
in local governance
• leadership
• citizen participation in
the urban metabolism
• conclusion

3

The following slideshow was used for a
presentation on sustainable
community development

We all know that the world is facing
very serious challenges
Over the past 50 years the world’s
population has doubled, consumption
of natural resources and production of
waste have risen dramatically, and our
demands on the Earth’s natural
systems have resulted in serious
social environmental and health costs.
4

Despite gloomy forecasts and worrying
signs, there is a hopeful transformation
taking place in neighbourhoods around
the world known as…
Sustainable Community Development
(SCD)
SCD is a way to harness the power of
community decision-making to create
and sustain patterns of human
development and economic prosperity
that protect the environment, reduce
poverty, and improve the quality of life
today and for future generations.

5

Goals of this presentation
• Examine the attributes of successful
sustainable community initiatives
• Explore how forward-looking
community leadership and strong
public participation can create vibrant
Green Cities

6

Attributes of Sustainable
Community Development
•
•
•
•

a practical vision
committed leadership
active public participation
integration of ecological,
economic and social principles
into decision-making

7

The Two Key Principles
of Sustainable Community Development
•

Ecological sustainability, economic growth
and social equity are compatible and
mutually beneficial.

•

The success of SCD depends on the
degree to which citizens participate in the
development and implementation of
strategies.

8

The Three Core
Operating Principles of
Sustainable Community Development
• environmental protection must be
entrenched in economic
policymaking.
• social equity must be incorporated
into decision-making.
• “development” must include
qualitative as well as quantitative
improvement (development means
more than simply “growth”).
9

In 1800, there were
approximately 1 billion
people on earth – cities
housed some
20,000,000 people
worldwide. Today,
with a population of
over 6 billion, cities must
accommodate some
3 billion people, a
staggering increase
that brings a host of
problems. By 2030, the
number of people who
make cities home is
expected to rise to 61%
(PDDESA-UN 2003).

Percentage
of World
Population
Living in
Cities

1800

2006

2030

Year

10

Community Assets

•
•
•
•
•
•

natural capital
physical capital
human capital
economic capital
social capital
cultural capital

11

Each community asset is part of the rich
tapestry of social, ecological and
economic activity that make up the
day-to-day and long-term qualities of
where we live. It is very important to
recognize that they do not exist
independent from each other. In fact,
SCD takes advantage of how these
assets interrelate in day-to-day
activities to drive the transformation
towards long-term sustainability.
12

Community Success Stories:
In Dhaka, Bangladesh residents
created Waste Concern, an
urban composting project which
involves many of the
community’s assets and has
improved health, economic and
environmental conditions. Over
40,000 households are involved.
(Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony Foundation
2005)

13

“I found a fruitful world because my
ancestors planted for me. So will I
do for generations to come.”

-The sage, Choni
Achieving the goals and long-term
benefits of sustainable development
requires a new kind of leadership which
understands that success depends on
the enthusiastic participation of people
from all walks of life and knows how to
make that happen.
14

We must encourage and support
leaders in public office who are
committed to more than their next term
office. They must be committed to the
future.
At the heart of sustainable community
development is also a personal
commitment for all of us to live within
the limits of the environments which
support us.
15

Qualities of Inspired Leadership
• articulate the shared needs
and aspirations of the
community
• reassure stakeholders that
the risks necessary to
achieve a brighter future are
worth taking
• offer a dynamic vision which
motivates people to get
involved because the vision’s
message and messenger are
credible, realistic and
forward-looking

16

Role of Citizen Participation in
Local Governance
“Urban leverage” is sometimes used
to describe the magnified impact
that large numbers of people in
urban communities can have when
participating in sustainable
practices. (Rees 1995)
Impact is cumulative:
When the number of people involved
grows, the impact can be profound.
Widespread public participation is
essential to the success of SCD.
17

A study of 150 municipalities found
that when local governments
partnered with their citizens and
community organizations rather
than imposing policies their
activities were far more successful.
(Ludhe-Thompson 2004)

By encouraging local citizens to
participate, the process benefits
from a rich pool of knowledge
and talent.

18

Characteristics of Meaningful
Public Participation
•
•
•

•

•

citizen representation
throughout the process
process open to monitoring by
all interested parties
diverse forms of knowledge and
experience welcome and
accessible
process organized around the
principles of shared learning
knowledge
respect for divergent views and
backgrounds

19

"Rather than fearing a loss of

decision-making power, local
governments need to be aware
that alliances provide access to
different groups within civil

society whose acceptance of,
and contribution to decisionmaking processes, is of central
importance to a successful local
sustainability strategy."

20

The Grand Bet
The stakes in the “sustainability challenge” are high.
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
• continue on our current path, believing
that the gravity of our situation has been
overstated: that human ingenuity can
save us in the nick of time
or
• assume scientific predictions are correct,
accept we have cause for serious
concern, and adopt sustainable
practices which don’t compromise the
future

21

Transactional
Leaders who
manage for shortterm fixes

Leadership
Transformational
Leaders who motivate,
encourage and
empower people to
pursue long-term foals
and solutions

22

Those who play it safe
or try to impose outcomes
must face the fact that they
are not really leaders
after all.
Characteristics of Progressive Leadership
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Courage
Integrity
Acumen
Insight
Passion
Balance
Compassion
Open-mindedness
Sense of Humour
Acceptance of Failure
Vision
Recognizing Opportunities
Productivity
Respect for Others

23

One approach to understanding urban
settlements is to think of them as
metabolisms with inputs and outputs
Urban Metabolisms
• land use and transportation
planning
• waste reduction and recycling
• energy
• water and sewage
• food security
• community economic
development
• air quality

24

An inspiring example of urban rejuvenation
is the the East St. Louis Action Research
Project (ESLARP). ESLARP is a
cooperatively managed community
assistance and development program of
the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Faculty and students from the
collaborating campus units - the
Department of Urban and Regional
Planning, the Department of Landscape
Architecture, and the School of Architecture
– work together with East St. Louis
community groups on highly tangible and
visible projects that address the immediate
and long-term needs of some of the city's
poorest neighbourhoods.

25

Another important part of land planning is
to provide green space.
The Benefits of Green Space
• improve social interaction
and public health
• clean the air, produce oxygen;
buffer wind and noise
• decrease energy costs through
shading
and heat absorption
• improve hydrologic balance by reducing
losses and improving quality (absorb rain,
increase evaporation and transpiration,
and allows filtration)
26

Reducing Car Use is Central to Effective
Transportation Strategies including:
• more affordable public transit
• land-use planning to encourage
public transit, higher density and
mixed zoning
• increased infrastructure for cycling
and walking
• gasoline taxes to support
non-automobile transportation modes
• road tolls and fees for care use in
peak periods or congested areas
27

Demand Management
Manages Existing Levels
of Car Use More Efficiently
• special traffic lanes (HOV and bus-only),
• regulation of freeway on-ramp traffic to
increase efficiency
• parking and toll privileges for more
sustainable car use (e.g. carpooling),
• car-coops fleets of cars used on an
as-needed basis,
• peak-hour pricing to reduce total vehicle travel
road costs, emissions, and increases safety.
• traffic calming
• tax-exemptions for transit and for car and
bicycle sharing

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Car coops are one particularly
successful model, and have been
created in many cities in North America
and Europe. They decrease car use,
improve air quality and contribute to the
local economy.
The Cooperative Auto Network
based in Vancouver has more than
1,000 members sharing over 60
cars located in neighbourhoods
throughout the city.

29

Sustainable community development also
involves supporting alternatives to car use.
Toronto Community Bicycle Network
• a fleet of 200 bicycles in 14 hubs
throughout a city of 3 million people.
• the Network runs on membership fees,
donations and the revenues from
workshops.

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Waste reduction is another key issue.
Effective Waste Reduction Strategies
•
•
•
•
•

waste reduction awards; subsidies
and incentives
regulations for developers and builders
full cost recovery for the collection and
disposal of industrial waste;
waste disposal taxes for wasteful
households and industries
public education for waste reduction

•

banning non-recyclable containers; incl
plastic bags

•

incentives for biodegradable substitutes
for plastic

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Energy is another enormous challenge.
Ninety percent of the world’s energy
supply comes from fossil fuels resulting
in an estimated 37.1 billion tonnes of
carbon emissions annually.
Strategies for Sustainable Energy
• strategic energy planning
• increasing energy efficiency
• energy alternatives
• reduce waste
32

While most alternative energies are still
in the developmental phase. Grants,
subsidies and tax incentives should be
used to encourage safe and sustainable
options.

Alternative Energies
•
•
•
•

• wave energy
biomass
• wind power
deep-lake cooling
geothermal heat-pumps • nuclear power
hydrogen fuel cell

• micro-hydro
• solar-photovoltaic
• solar-thermal
• tidal-power

33

Water and Sewage
Fresh water is essential
for our survival and most
urban settlements are
threatened by declining
quality and growing
shortages.

34

Municipal Water Strategies include:
• leak monitoring
• increased efficiency through improved
technology
• and strategic interventions to reuse as
much water as possible before treatment
• public education for conservation

35

Sustainable runoff management
diverts water into the ground and

• replenishes ground sources
• purifies water
• reduces demands on local water
treatment
Strategies include:
 permeable paving
 rain harvesting
 diverting runoff to collectors
 green roofs.
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Good Water Makes
Good Neighbours
Project
A hopeful project enabling
youth from Israeli,
Palestinian and Jordanian
settlements to work
together to conserve
shared underground water
sources.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

37

Cuban Urban
Agricultural Program
Started in 1992, this
project has evolved into
one of the most
sophisticated urban
agricultural programs in the
world.
Havana now has 26,000
urban farms.
Green Cities: A Guide for Sustainable
Community Development, Harmony
Foundation 2005)

38

Four Core Community Economic
Development Strategies
• more efficient use of existing
resources
• using local needs as an
opportunity for local
production
• using purchasing power to
support local production
• encouraging local people and
local opportunities before
looking for imported solutions
39

The Abalimi
Market Garden
Project
(South Africa)
The project combines
urban agriculture and
community economic
development involving
3,000 families in over
100 community
gardens and another
2,500 home gardens
producing food for
domestic use and for
sale in local markets.

before

after

before

after
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The evidence clearly shows that our
current approach to development is
unsustainable. The challenge to
our generation is to develop goals
and values which respect our
responsibilities to each other, other
species and future generations:
ones which are compatible with a
healthy environment, and promote
just social and economic decisions.

41

Harmony Foundation 2006
For more information, please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

42

Special thanks for support from:
• The Co-operators
• BMO Financial Group
• RBC Foundation
To learn more about Harmony
Foundation, our publications and
activities please visit our website:
www.harmonyfdn.ca

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