The Path to Local Sustainability

  
 

The following are a collection of guideposts for developing an online Sustainability Index Rating and Knowledge Management System - A Knowledge & Ecology Sustainability Index (KESI). These areA community commons knowledge ecology

Background Initiatives

United Nations Environmental Program -- AGENDA 21

Adopted by the Plenary in Rio de Janeiro, on June 14, 1992.

CHAPTER 1, PREAMBLE

Humanity stands at a defining moment in history. …integration of environment and development concerns …  will lead to the fulfillment of basic needs, improved living standards for all, better protected and managed ecosystems and a safer, more prosperous future. No nation can achieve this on its own; but together we can - in a global partnership for sustainable development.

Chapter 28 -- LOCAL AUTHORITIES' INITIATIVES IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA 21

Basis for action

28.1. Because so many of the problems and solutions being addressed by Agenda 21 have their roots in local activities, the participation and cooperation of local authorities will be a determining factor in fulfilling its objectives. Local authorities construct, operate and maintain economic, social and environmental infrastructure, oversee planning processes, establish local environmental policies and regulations, and assist in implementing national and subnational environmental policies. As the level of governance closest to the people, they play a vital role in educating, mobilizing and responding to the public to promote sustainable development.

Activities

28.3. Each local authority should enter into a dialogue with its citizens, local organizations and private enterprises and adopt “a local Agenda 21”. Through consultation and consensus-building, local authorities would learn from citizens and from local, civic, community, business and industrial organizations and acquire the information needed for formulating the best strategies. The process of consultation would increase household awareness of sustainable development issues. Local authority programmes, policies, laws and regulations to achieve Agenda 21 objectives would be assessed and modified, based on local programmes adopted. Strategies could also be used in supporting proposals for local, national, regional and international funding.

Chapter 40 - INFORMATION FOR DECISION-MAKING

Introduction

40.1.     In sustainable development, everyone is a user and provider of information considered in the broad sense. That includes data, information, appropriately packaged experience and knowledge. The need for information arises at all levels, from that of senior decision makers at the national and international levels to the grass-roots and individual levels. The following two programme areas need to be implemented to ensure that decisions are based increasingly on sound information:

A. Bridging the data gap

Objectives:

(a)   To achieve more cost-effective and relevant data collection and assessment by better identification of users, in both the public and private sectors, and of their information needs at the local, provincial, national and international levels;

(b)  To strengthen local, provincial, national and international capacity to collect and use multisectoral information in decision-making processes and to enhance capacities to collect and analyse data and information for decision-making, particularly in developing countries;

(c)  To develop or strengthen local, provincial, national and international means of ensuring that planning for sustainable development in all sectors is based on timely, reliable and usable information;

(d)  To make relevant information accessible in the form and at the time required to facilitate its use.

Activities:

(a)  Development of indicators of sustainable development
(b)  Promotion of global use of indicators of sustainable development
(c)  Improvement of data collection and use
(d)  Improvement of methods of data assessment and analysis
(e)  Establishment of a comprehensive information framework
(f)  Strengthening of the capacity for traditional information

B.  Improving Availability of Information

Activities:

(a)  Production of information usable for decision-making
(b)  Establishment of standards and methods for handling information
(c)  Development of documentation about information
(d)  Establishment and strengthening of electronic networking capabilities
(e)  Making use of commercial information sources

President's Council on Sustainable Development

Between June 1993 and June 1999, the PCSD has advised President Clinton on sustainable development and develops bold, new approaches to achieve economic, environmental, and equity goals. We are committed to the achievement of a dignified, peaceful, and equitable existence.  The Council was established by Executive Order No. 12852, dated June 29, 1993. Revised Charter April 25, 1997. May 1999, issued a revision of a 1996 report:

Towards a Sustainable America

Advancing Prosperity, Opportunity, and a Healthy Environment for the 21st Century

National Goals Towards Sustainable Development

The Council first published these goals in its 1996 report, Sustainable America. They emerged from our vision and still express the Council.s shared aspirations. They are truly interdependent and flow from our understanding that it is essential to seek economic prosperity, environmental protection, and social equity together. The achievement of any one goal is not enough to ensure that future generations will have at least the same opportunities to live and prosper that this generation enjoys: all are needed.

GOAL 1: HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Ensure that every person enjoys the benefits of clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment at home, at work, and at play.

GOAL 2: ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

Sustain a healthy U.S. economy that grows sufficiently to create meaningful jobs, reduce poverty, and provide the opportunity for a high quality of life for all in an increasingly competitive world.

GOAL 3: EQUITY

Ensure that all Americans are afforded justice and have the opportunity to achieve economic, environmental, and social well-being.

GOAL 4: CONSERVATION OF NATURE

Use, conserve, protect, and restore natural resources . land, air, water, and biodiversity. in ways that help ensure long-term social, economic, and environmental benefits for ourselves and future generations.

GOAL 5: STEWARDSHIP

Create a widely held ethic of stewardship that strongly encourages individuals, institutions, and corporations to take full responsibility for the economic, environmental, and social consequences of their actions.

GOAL 6: SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Encourage people to work together to create healthy communities where natural and historic resources are preserved, jobs are available, sprawl is contained, neighborhoods are secure, education is lifelong, transportation and health care are accessible, and all citizens have opportunities to improve the quality of their lives.

GOAL 7: CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Create full opportunity for citizens, businesses, and communities to participate in and influence the natural resource, environmental, and economic decisions that affect them.

GOAL 8: POPULATION

Move toward stabilization of U.S. population.

GOAL 9: INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Take a leadership role in the development and implementation of global sustainable development policies, standards of conduct, and trade and foreign policies that further the achievement of sustainability.

GOAL 10: EDUCATION

Ensure that all Americans have equal access to education and lifelong learning opportunities that will prepare them for meaningful work, a high quality of life, and an understanding of the concepts involved in sustainable development.

 

VISION STATEMENT

Our vision is of a life-sustaining Earth. We are committed to the achievement of a dignified, peaceful, and equitable existence. A sustainable United States will have a growing economy that provides equitable opportunities for satisfying livelihoods and a safe, healthy, high quality of life for current and future generations. Our nation will protect its environment, its natural resource base, and the functions and viability of natural systems on which all life depends.

We believe:

  • To achieve our vision of sustainable development, some things must grow . jobs, productivity, wages, capital and savings, profits, information, knowledge, and education . and others . pollution, waste, and poverty . must not.
  • Change is inevitable and necessary for the sake of future generations and for ourselves. We can choose a course for change that will lead to the mutually reinforcing goals of economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity.
  • Steady progress in reducing disparities in education, opportunity, and environmental risk within society is essential to economic growth, environmental health, and social justice.
  • The United States made great progress in protecting the environment in the last 25 years, and must continue to make progress in the next 25 years. We can achieve that goal because market incentives and the power of consumers can lead to significant improvements in environmental performance at less cost.
  • Economic growth based on technological innovation, improved efficiency, and expanding global markets is essential for progress toward greater prosperity, equity, and environmental quality.
  • Environmental regulations have improved and must continue to improve the lives of all Americans. Basic standards of performance that are clear, fair, and consistently enforced remain necessary to protect that progress. The current regulatory system should be improved to deliver required results at lower costs. In addition, the system should provide enhanced flexibility in return for superior environmental performance.
  • Environmental progress will depend on individual, institutional, and corporate responsibility, commitment, and stewardship.
  • We need a new collaborative decision process that leads to better decisions; more rapid change; and more sensible use of human, natural, and financial resources in achieving our goals.
  • The nation must strengthen its communities and enhance their role in decisions about environment, equity, natural resources, and economic progress so that the individuals and institutions most immediately affected can join with others in the decision process.
  • Economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity are linked. We need to develop integrated policies to achieve these national goals.
  • The United States should have policies and programs that contribute to stabilizing global human population; this objective is critical if we hope to have the resources needed to ensure a high quality of life for future generations.
  • Even in the face of scientific uncertainty, society should take reasonable actions to avert risks where the potential harm to human health or the environment is thought to be serious or irreparable.
  • Steady advances in science and technology are essential to help improve economic efficiency, protect and restore natural systems, and modify consumption patterns.
  • A growing economy and healthy environment are essential to national and global security.
  • A knowledgeable public, the free flow of information, and opportunities for review and redress are critically important to open, equitable, and effective decisionmaking.
  • Citizens must have access to high-quality and lifelong formal and nonformal education that enables them to understand the interdependence of economic prosperity, environmental quality, and social equity . and prepares them to take actions that support all three.

 Local Initiatives

Vermont Smart Growth Collaborative

Smart Growth Principles in Vermont is that which:

  • Maintains the historic development pattern of compact village and urban centers separated by rural countryside.
  • Develops compact mixed-use centers at a scale appropriate for the community and the region.
  • Enables choice in modes of transportation.
  • Protects the state's important environmental, natural and historic features, including natural areas, water quality, scenic resources, historic sites and districts.
  • Serves to strengthen agricultural and forest industries and minimizes conflicts of development with these industries.
  • Balances growth with the availability of economic and efficient public utilities and services.
  • Supports a diversity of viable businesses in downtown's and villages, including locally-owned businesses.
  • Provides for housing that meets the needs of a diversity of social and income groups in each community.

Collaborative Members

  • Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions
    (802) 223-5527
  • Conservation Law Foundation
    (802) 223-5992
  • Friends of the Earth
    (802) 951-9094
  • Housing Vermont
    (802) 863-8424
  • Preservation Trust of Vermont
    (802) 658-6647
  • Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition
    (802) 279-7545
  • Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility
    (802) 863-1535
  • Vermont Forum on Sprawl
    (802) 864-6310
  • Vermont Natural Resources Council
    (802) 223-2328
  • Vermont Public Interest Research Group
    (802) 223-5221

 

Sustainable Valley Group

Our Vision:

A community that promotes sustainable living, industry and agriculture

Our Mission:
  • To promote the generation and implementation of ideas to bring about a financially and environmentally sustainable economy. The Sustainable Valley Group has been established to:
  • Incubate and attract businesses/agriculture to our community and support them once here.
  • Inventory local resources and create cooperative networks to support and facilitate sustainability ventures
  • Revitalize the local community by creating jobs and fully utilizing local resources such as buildings, workforce and infrastructure.
  • Promote the production and consumption of locally developed sustainable industrial and agricultural products. Example: create agricultural/industrial products locally and consume locally
  • Promote the production and consumption of sustainable energy. Example: energy independence and on-site affordable generation of power

Sustainable Energy Resource Group

SERG is promoting energy conservation, efficiency and renewables through the formation of town energy committees to help residents, businesses and the municipalities reduce energy consumption, save money, move toward renewables, strengthen the local economy and improve the environment. We have formed committees in Hartford, Norwich, Thetford, Strafford, VT, and Hanover and Lyme, NH. We are supporting the efforts of these groups and working to form additional committees in other Vermont and New Hampshire towns.

VERMONTERS FOR A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT, INC.

Vermonters for a Clean Environment is a statewide non-profit corporation. We believe that Vermont's economic growth depends on its environmental health. VCE was founded in 1999 by citizens in southwestern Vermont who joined together to deal with an inappropriate industrial development project. VCE is now made up of citizens throughout Vermont.

Mission: VCE is fighting for the economic well-being of all Vermonters assuring appropriate use of our resources—our people, our land, our air and our water. We are united in the belief that Vermont's future lies in conserving its clean, rural, small-town environment. We have joined together to pursue the common goals of encouraging economic development with minimal environmental impacts and preserving Vermont's natural beauty. VCE is committed to providing facts and information so that people can make informed decisions. Vermont has some of the cleanest air in the nation and large quantities of pure water. We support long-term planning for sustainable economic and energy policies for Vermont that will benefit Vermonters and set standards for other states to follow.

Southeastern Vermont Community Action

Mission: To work in collaboration to foster sustainable self-sufficiency, to strengthen our communities and to eliminate the root causes of poverty.

SEVCA provides programs and opportunities for individuals and families in Windham and Windsor counties to obtain a sustainable life and to develop human resources.  SEVCA covers an area from White River Junction to Brattleboro, including towns in Windsor and Windham counties.

 

Financial Resources

Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF)

A 501©(3) not-for-profit corporation (www.getf.org). We are making a difference by promoting the development and use of innovative technology to achieve sustainable development. For more than fifteen years, GETF has brought industry, government and communities together to address environmental challenges with innovative solutions.

Service Areas:

  • Technology Innovation
  • Energy and Climate
  • Environmental Security/Environmental Management Systems
  • Environmental Finance
  • Information Sharing
  • Partnership Development

 

The New England Grassroots Environment Fund

NEGEF is a small grants program designed to foster and give voice to grassroots environmental initiatives in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusett s, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It provides grants of up to $2,500 to fuel civic engagement, local activism, and social change.

NEGEF funds community involvement in projects that address a wide range of environmental issues including: agriculture, air quality, alternative energy, aquifer protection, biotechnology, community gardens, environmental justice, energy conservation, forestry, global warming, land trusts, marine environment, public health, sprawl, sustainable communities, toxics and hazardous waste, trails, water quality, watershed management, wetlands, wildlife, and youth-organized environmental work.

The Grassroots Fund believes that the key to long-term community health is the passion of citizen groups who are motivated by a particular local concern and take direct action to address it. They represent the most exciting energy in the environmental movement today.

NEGEF was created to assist groups who are not being reached by traditional funders.

The Fund's Goals are to:

  • Build and connect healthy, sustainable communities in New England.
  • Support volunteerism, nurturing democracy at the neighborhood and town levels.
  • Foster community organizing.
  • Identify, encourage and support emerging leaders.
  • Establish informed networks of activists across the region.
  • Implement local, state and federal laws by holding public officials accountable.
  • Solve environmental problems.

 

FreshTracks Capital

We nurture high-growth, technology-driven companies in the superb surroundings of the Green Mountains.

FreshTracks Capital, L.P., is an early-stage venture fund, combining the financial resources of $20 million in venture capital with the strategic resources needed by entrepreneurs to build thriving businesses in the Champlain Valley and throughout Vermont. As an affiliate fund in the Village Ventures, Inc. network of funds. FreshTracks makes equity investments, in partnership with that firm, of up to $1.5 million in companies that demonstrate a compelling and defensible competitive advantage. Larger investments can also be organized.

If you are an entrepreneur in the fields of software, hardware, telecommunications, media, business information, business systems or biotechnology, and wish to learn more about FreshTracks, please send your business plan and/or summary documents to info@freshtrackscap.com .

The intellectual capital of Vermont and the investment experience of FreshTracks provide a winning combination. Middlebury College, the University of Vermont, and IBM's world-leading silicon chip manufacturing facilities, plus Vermont's renowned quality of life, are magnets for talented entrepreneurs. The FreshTracks Capital management team has a deep background in business finance and strategy, as well as direct operating experience in growth companies. Linked to the national Village Ventures network of professional and financial resources, our local roots and networks support the growth of innovative businesses through multiple rounds of financing. Come make tracks in Vermont!

Next Generation Grants Available for Nonprofit Organizations

The Corporation for National and Community Service (“the Corporation”) has announced the availability of approximately $4,000,000 to award Next Generation Grants to eligible nonprofit organizations. The purpose of these grants is to foster the next generation of national service organizations by providing seed money to help new and start-up organizations, and established organizations proposing new projects or programs, plan and implement new service programs that have the potential of becoming national in scope. These funds are available under authority provided in Public Law 108-7, the Omnibus Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2003.

These grants will fund innovative strategies to effectively engage volunteers in service, which result in measurable outcomes to beneficiaries and participants. Innovative models that fall under at least one of three service areas are being sought: programs that engage individuals in an intensive commitment to service in communities (defined as serving at least 40 hours per week); volunteer programs for seniors (age 55+); and programs that connect service with education. Organizations may focus on various issue areas including, but not limited to: education, environment, health and human services, homeland security, public safety, or other critical areas.

Eligible applicants for this funding are nonprofit charitable organizations, such as public charities, community organizations (faith-based and secular), private foundations, and individual schools. Applicants other than individual schools generally will have an annual operating budget of $500,000 or less. The Corporation encourages submissions from community organizations (faith-based and secular) and from organizations with little or no experience with federal grants, where an investment could dramatically increase community involvement in service. Applicants cannot have received a previous grant award from the Corporation. Applicants must also be able to develop programs that have the potential for becoming national in scope, or provide a compelling statement that the model could be replicated in other locations.

The Corporation must receive your concept paper, budget, IRS form 990, and a completed Survey Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants by 5:00 p.m. EST on November 17, 2003. The Corporation will not consider concept papers, budgets, surveys, or IRS form 990's received after this date.

For a complete description of the activities to be funded, application requirements, supplementary information, and concept paper guidelines, visit the Corporation's Web site at www.cns.gov/whatshot/notices.html. Future updates and additional guidance on 2004 living allowance parameters will also be posted at the Corporation's website.

US Fish and Wildlife Funds

The US Fish and Wildlife has funds available for individuals or groups to protect and restore imperiled species and their habitats. For information on FWS funding programs for natural resource grants to governmental, public and private organizations go to http://grants.fws.gov

Donella Meadows Leadership Fellows Program

Sustainability Institute (SI) is launching the Donella Meadows Leadership Fellows program to honor and boost the effectiveness of people whose approach to sustainability displays analytic clarity, systemic change and attention to spirit, values, and meaning. Fellows, primarily women, will be selected for their potential to influence thinking in wide circles of people.

Fellows will receive training and coaching in systems thinking and organizational learning. They will address environmental and social issues at two levels 1) pragmatic projects in their current work settings, and 2) the systems “rules” of institutions and markets that influence the success of their projects.

For more information visit: http://www.sustainer.org/working.html#fellows

ACHP Unveils New Guide to Historic Preservation Funding

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) has created a new online guide that outlines the range of historic preservation funding options that are currently available.

Geared toward the preservation community and the general public, “Sources of Financial Assistance for Historic Preservation Projects,” emphasizes Federal funding while also touching upon State, tribal, local, and non-profit funding opportunities.

Topics in the guide include Federal funds for the National Historic Preservation Program; Federal financial assistance for historic preservation; other Federal financial assistance; Federal tax incentives; State grants, loans, and tax incentives; tribal project grants; and sources for local and non-profit programs.

The guide provides information on specific grants offered through programs such as Save America's Treasures, National Scenic Byways, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, the American Battlefield Protection Program, and the Historic Barn Preservation Program. Details on sources of funding that can support preservation through other Federal programs will continue to be added to the guide.

In addition, visitors will find links to the Web sites of the various funding programs outlined in the guide.

Website: http://www.achp.gov/funding.html

Other Resources

Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), 2125 W. North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647, Tel: 773.278.4800, Fax: 773.278.3840, Email: info@cnt.org, Website:  www.cnt.org.

The Center for Neighborhood Technology promotes public policies, new resources and accountable authority which support sustainable, just and vital urban communities.

Center for Policy Alternatives, 1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009, Tel: 202.387.6030, Fax: 202.986.2539, Email: info@cfpa.org, Website: www.cfpa.org.

The Center for Policy Alternatives is a non-profit public policy and leadership development center that links elected leaders with private and non-profit sector leaders in the search for community-based solutions that strengthen families and communities.

Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development, US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Denver Regional Support Office, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401, Tel: 303.275.4826; 800.357.7732, Fax: 303.275.4830, Email: sustainable.development@hq.doe.gov, Website: www.sustainable.doe.gov/.

The Center helps communities design and implement innovative strategies that enhance the local economy as well as the local environment and quality of life. Its website contains a “tool kit” of sustainable information including manuals, workbooks, bibliographies, data bases, case studies, and model codes and ordinances.

Citizens' Network for Sustainable Development (CitNet), c/o ISF, 11426 Rockville Pike, Suite 306, Rockville, MD 20906-3007, Tel: 301.770.5535, Fax: 301.770.5537, Email: info@isforum.org, Website: www.citnet.org.

CitNet is a national volunteer organization established prior to the UN Earth Summit as a vehicle to work on issues relating to sustainable development, the environment, government policy, and civic participation.

Communities by Choice, 427 Chesnut Street, Suite 4, Berea, KY 40403-1547, Tel: 859.985.1763, Fax: 859.985.9063, Email: info@CommunitiesbyChoice.org, Website: www.CommunitiesbyChoice.org.

Communities by Choice is a national network of communities, organizations and individuals committed to learning and practicing sustainable development. Its website contains extensive resources and case studies.

CONCERN, Inc., 1794 Columbia Road, Washington, DC 20009, Tel: 202.328.8160, Fax: 202.387.3378, Email: concern@igc.org

CONCERN, Inc. is a national nonprofit environmental education organization with a focus on sustainable communities. Its mission is to build public understanding of and support for programs, policies, and practices that are environmentally, economically, and socially sound. CONCERN identifies and profiles examples of community-wide and issue-specific programs and projects; catalogues local, state, national, and international sustainability initiatives in its database; publishes and disseminates informational materials on issues related to sustainability; promotes the concepts of sustainability to key constituencies through presentations and workshops; and facilitates the exchange of information within and among communities and constituencies.

International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), City Hall, East Tower, 8th Floor, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ON M5H 2N2, Tel: 416.392.1462, Fax: 416.392.1478, Email: iclei@iclei.org, Website: www.iclei.org.

ICLEI is the international environmental agency for local governments. It serves as a clearinghouse on sustainable development and environmental protection policies, programs and techniques; initiates joint projects or campaigns among groups of local governments; organizes training programs; and publishes reports and technical manuals on state of the art environmental management policies.

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), 161 Portage Avenue, East, 6th Floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, MB R3B 0Y4, Tel: 204.958.7700, Fax: 204.958.7710, Email: info@iisd.ca, Website: www.iisd.org.

IISD, a Canadian non-government organization, promotes sustainable development in decision-making internationally and within Canada. Its website contains information on many issues related to sustainable development.

Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA), Sustainability Education Project, 707 Conservation Lane, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, Tel: 301.548.0150, Fax: 301.548.0146, Email: general@iwla.org, Website: www.iwla.org.

IWLA's Sustainability Education Project educates the public about population and natural resource consumption issues and works with organizations involved in promoting sustainability at the community level.

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), 1739 Snowmass Creek Road, Snowmass, C O 81654-9199, Tel: 970.927.3851, Fax: 970.927.4178, Email: outreach@rmi.org, Website: www.rmi.org.

RMI seeks to foster the efficient and sustainable use of resources as a path to global security.

Sustainability Institute, 3 Linden Road, Hartland, VT 05048, Tel: 802.436.1277, Fax: 802.436.1281, Email: hhamilton@centerss.org, Website: www.sustainer.org.

The Institute provides information, analysis, and practical demonstrations that can foster transitions to sustainable systems at all levels of society, from local to global.

Sustainable Communities Network (SCN), c/o CONCERN, Inc., 1794 Columbia Road, NW, Washington, DC 20009, Email: info@sustainable.org, Website: www.sustainable.org.

The SCN website connects citizens with the resources they need to implement innovative processes and programs to restore the economic, environmental, and social health and vitality of their communties. It addresses a wide range of issues related to community sustainability, including creating communities, living sustainably, and governing communities. In addition it gives case studies, resources, links to relevant websites, events calendar, and suggested reading.

Sustainable Communities Program, Global Development and Environment Institute, Cabot Center, Fletcher School, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, Tel: 617.627.3530, Fax: 617-627-2409, Email: gdae@tufts.edu, Website: ase.tufts.edu/gdae.

This project brings together government officials, environmental regulators, academic researchers, business people, non-government organizational staff, and others to work on environmental issues in the northeastern United States and Canada.

Sustainable Development Communications Network (SDCN), c/o International Institute for Sustainable Development, 161 Portage Avenue E., 6th Floor, Winnipeg, MB, R3B OY4, Canada, Tel: 204.958.7700, Fax: 204.958.7710, Email: info@sdcn.org, Website: sdgateway.net.

The SDCN, formerly Spinning the Web, is a group of leading non-governmental organizations working together to find ways of using the Internet to meet the goals of sustainable development.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Communities Program, Region III (3ES10), 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029, Tel: 215.814.2739, Fax: 215.814.2783, Email: r3green@epamail.epa.gov, Website: www.epa.gov/greenkit.

This EPA Region III program is designed to help communities access the tools and information that will help them become more sustainable, green communities. Its online Green Communities Assistance Kit is a step-by-step guide for planning and implementing sustainable actions.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Region 2 Community Resources Pages, Website: www.epa.gov/region02/community.

This website provides access to a broad set of resources for communities, including links to tools for community action, directories of community grants and financial assistance, as well as links to EPA contacts and other information sources.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Community-Based Environmental Protection (CBEP), Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation, Website: www.epa.gov/ecocommunity.

This program integrates environmental mangement with human needs, considers long-term ecosystem health and highlights the positive correlations between economic prosperity and environmental well-being.

United Nations Centre for Human Settlements UNCHS (Habitat), Best Practices and Local Leadership Programme (BLP), Website: www.bestpractices.org.

The BLP continues the Best Practices Initiative of the Habitat II preparatory process which selected outstanding urban initiatives from around the world. Its website contains a searchable database of these and other initiatives.

Urban Habitat Program, P.O. Box 29908, Presidio Station, San Francisco, CA 94129-9908, Tel: 415.561.3333, Fax: 415.561.3334, Email: contact@urbanhabitatprogram.org, Website: www.urbanhabitatprogram.org.

The Urban Habitat Program, a project of the Earth Island Institute, builds multicultural urban environmental leadership for socially just, ecologically sustainable communities in the San Francisco area.

 

 

  
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