Sustainable communities are communities planned, built, or modified to promote sustainable living. This may include sustainability aspects relating to reproduction , water, transportation, energy, and waste and materials.[1] They tend to focus on environmental sustainability (including development and agriculture) and economic sustainability. Sustainable communities can focus on sustainable urban infrastructure and/or sustainable municipal infrastructure.
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Kaikoura has a stunning environment which is important to the community and attracts close to 1 million visitors each year. Throughout the Kaikoura community, the value in looking after the environment, for the community, the tourists and the next generation, has become increasingly important - Green Globe provided a framework to reduce the environmental impact of the community and the visitors.
Green Globe is a tool used by Kaikoura's community to measure and work towards reducing its impact on the environment.
To become certified the environmental impact is measured each year (also known as benchmarking). Annually they calculate 12 indicators, which include the amount of energy used in the District, amounts of [greenhouse] gas and waste produced, and 9 other indicators (for benchmark results in 2003/2004, 2004/2005, 2005/06 and 2006/07).
By measuring the impact they are having - they can manage it and work to reduce the negative effects. The Council has adopted an Environmental & Social Sustainability Policy and every day activities focus on leading the community towards sustainability.
The Government of the United Kingdom defines a sustainable community in its 2003 Sustainable Communities Plan: "Sustainable communities are places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life. They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer equality of opportunity and good services for all."[2][3]
The agenda sets out a long term plan to combat the under supply of homes in the South East and over supply of void or low demand properties in the Midlands and North.
It has also formed the Academy for Sustainable Communities.
The Atlanta BeltLine "could become a model for sustainable communities worldwide" according the The Atlantic magazine who also called it the United States' "most ambitious smart growth project".[4]The Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies is a small scale example of a sustainable community for students at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Tamera peace research center is one of the biggest communities in Europe which is aiming to create a model of sustainable life on earth.
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