Community sustainability involves using resources efficiently and relying on local sources. It includes transportation, housing, job creation, and renewable energy. A sustainability coordinator and clear goals are important in the planning phase. Residents can support local food producers and be educated on environmental issues. Community sustainability can vary, but the goal is to be eco-friendly and provide for future generations.
Community or local sustainability is a broad term that refers to an area designed to efficiently use energy and natural resources while relying on itself. Transportation, housing, and job creation are often considered in building a sustainable community. Building a sustainable community often involves creating a strong local economy that supports farmers, fishermen and small businesses. The use of renewable energy along with energy conservation to reduce pollution is another common part of community sustainability.
In the planning phase, a sustainability coordinator is usually chosen, along with at least one manager if the project is particularly large. These people are tasked with bringing together the right government officials and experts to shape and put the plan into action. During the planning phase, leaders of a community sustainability program often gather ideas about sustainability that are important to their residents. For example, someone might come up with an idea of how to feed the homeless with food grown in a shared garden. Clear goals, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a certain percentage, are also often outlined.
When practicing community sustainability, residents are often encouraged to support local food producers by purchasing groceries directly from a farmer’s market rather than a large chain retailer. For example, a cooperative food purchase program supports local farmers or fishermen, reducing the community’s dependence on outside sources. Additionally, residents can be encouraged to eat healthier by consuming less and buying food produced by producers with a relatively low impact on the local and surrounding environment.
Some jurisdictions that practice community sustainability choose to formally educate citizens on environmental issues early on. In this case, children are generally encouraged to become environmentally literate and active in their community from a very young age. The same jurisdictions may also offer adult education on related subjects, especially on how to become more socially and environmentally responsible when running a farm, fisheries or small business. Additionally, cultural education where locals teach and learn about community heritage is sometimes an important part of a community sustainability plan.
Community sustainability can encompass many different aspects of everyday life, from where food is bought and what children are taught in school to pollution management. This way of life differs for each community, however. Some communities emphasize spirituality, while others do not even consider spirituality a factor in community sustainability. Generally, the most common aspect is the desire to be eco-friendly and create a community that can provide for future generations.
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