Eco-municipality

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"Eco-municipality" has a specific meaning. For a more general discussion of the sustainability of cities, see Sustainable city.

An eco-municipality, (also known as an eco-town) is a local government area that has adopted ecological and social justice values in its charter. The development of eco-municipalities stems from changing systems in Sweden, where more than seventy municipal governments have accepted varying principles of sustainability in their operations as well as community-wide decision making processes.[1] The purpose of these policies is to increase the overall sustainability of the community.

The distinction between an eco-municipality and other sustainable development projects (such as green building and alternative energy) is the focus on community involvement and social transformation in a public agency as well as the use of a holistic systems approach. An eco-municipality is one that recognizes that issues of sustainability are key to all decisions made by government. Many eco-municipality projects also incorporate the Natural Step into their change processes.[2]

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[edit] History

In 1983 the Övertorneå community of Sweden first adopted an Eco-municipality framework followed by a formal organization in 1995 (SEKOM).

In 2007, the UK Communities and Local Government (CLG) department announced a competition to build up to 10 eco-towns in England.[3] In early 2008, CLG announced a shortlist of 15 bids that will be considered for eco-town status.[4]

Many of these sites are proposed to be developed on either green belt, or in the case of Hanley Grange near Hinxton in Cambridgeshire on Grade 2 agricultural land, owned in part by a development company, Jarrow Investments, which works closely with supermarket giant Tesco. Local opposition through the Stop Hanley Grange Group of Parish Councils, is focussed on lack of infrastructure, overbuilding already in Cambridgeshire, and the proposal that the development of the eco town concept on such a scale is best dealt with through an alternative scheme at Northstowe, North of Cambridge.

The petition launched against the plan was signed by Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond on 18 May 2008 at the Red Lion Pub at Hinxton, Cambs.

[edit] Framework

In becoming an eco-municipality, cities or towns typically adopt a resolution, based on the four Natural Step framework, which sets the following objectives:

  • Reduce dependence upon fossil fuels.
  • Reduce dependence upon synthetic chemicals.
  • Reduce encroachment upon nature.
  • Better meet human needs fairly and efficiently.[5]

[edit] Municipalities adopting framework

Communities in North America and Europe, ranging in size from villages of 300 to cities of 700,000 have become eco-municipalities. In Sweden, over sixty municipalities have officially become eco-municipalities. They have formed a national association of eco-municipalities to assist one another and work to influence national policy. Whistler, BC, was awarded first place in a United Nations-endorsed international competition for sustainable communities. Its long-term sustainability plan, Whistler 2020, is based on the Natural Step framework.[6]

In Wisconsin, as of November 2007, twelve local communities had formally adopted eco-municipality resolutions. The resolutions state the community's intention to become an eco-municipality, endorsing the Natural Step sustainability principles and framework as a guide.[7]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Miranda Spencer (September 22, 2005) Building Sustainable Cities: Scandinavia's "Eco-Municipalities" Show the Way.sustainablebusiness.com. Retrieved on: November 5, 2007.
  2. ^ Torbjorn Lahti and Sarah James (May 17, 2005) The Eco-municipality Model for Sustainable Community Change: A systems approach to creating sustainable communities. Retrieved on: November 5, 2007
  3. ^ BBC article on Gordon Brown's eco-towns announcement
  4. ^ CLG's consultation on the 15 shortlisted eco-town sites
  5. ^ Alliance for Sustainability Ashland, WI and Duluth, MN become Sustainable Cities. Retrieved on: February 10, 2008.
  6. ^ Sustain Dane Eco-municipalities: Where Are They?. Retrieved on: February 10, 2008.
  7. ^ 1,000 Friends of Wisconsin. Eco-municipalities: A Model for Sustainable Communities in Wisconsin. Retrieved on: February 10, 2008.

[edit] References

  • James, S. and T. Lahti (2004). The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices. Gabriola Island, British Columbia: New Society Publishers. ISBN 0-86571-491-6

[edit] External links