Lighter Footprint Cities:The Needed Leadership, Innovation and
Collaboration
Dagmar Timmer, MA
One Earth - 23 November 2017Building Sustainable Communities
How do we live happy, healthy lives equitably
within the natural limits of our Earth?
Collect and save water
Say no to junk mailChoose energy efficient lights
Buy used goodsWalk, bike, take transit, car pool
Use natural cleaners…
What we’re learning…
Sustainable living is…
Living within our ecological means
Equitably – our Fair Earth Share
What we’re learning…
Sustainable living is…
Living within our ecological means
Equitably – our Fair Earth Share
Sustainable lives are…
Diverse – not just one solution
Dynamic – not staticShaped by our context
Mary Douglas (1976)
‘An individual’s main objective
in consumption is to help create the social world and to
find a credible place in it.’
Hipster
Our ways of living are shaped by:
Identity, aspirations, social norms
Societal context– physical layout, policies, markets, institutions
Habits and social practices
Nairobi
Our ways of living are shaped by:
Identity, aspirations, social norms
Societal context– physical layout, policies, markets, institutions
Habits and social practices
What can we do as community builders?
three strategies for
sustainable living
1. focus on collectives
2. take advantage of the full range of city roles
3. imagine possible futures
What can we do as community builders?
1. focus on collectives
neighbourhood
friendsclubs
workplacevirtual communities (Zero Waste Vancouver)
WestwyckEco-Village, Australia
BedZEDUnited Kingdom
1,030
households
Hungary
2016 report
supported by:
Partners:
oneearthweb.org
2010 priority action:Start a neighbourhood-focused pilot project
Jim Boothroyd
Riley Park – 201320 out of 100 households participated
Ecological footprint tool
Dr. Jennie Moore
Eco-Footprint created by Bill Reeswith Mathis Wackernagel
2013 - 2015
measured:
travel
food
building energy
consumables and
waste
reduced footprint by
12 % - 2013 – 2015paper & transport
Dialogues
Block party
Home energy assessments
Community bulletin board
Skill-sharing workshops
Charettes
Toolkits
common themes:
community gardens
sharing infrastructureswap meets, lending libraries
repair
Repair Cafés
The Thingery
Chris Diplock
Chris Diplock
LocalGovSharingEcon.Com
#localgovsharingecon
Five categories of actors 1. For-profit2. Social enterprise / cooperatives3. Non-profit 4. Community5. Public sector actors
High effort – lead by example, regulate
Medium effort – educate, advocate, plan
Low effort – promote, fund, partnersupport, inventory, convene
2. Take advantage of
the full range of city roles
Fix-it Clinics
Hennepin County
City of Seattle, Impact of Car2Go
2013 – started with 500 cars
City of Seattle, Impact of Car2Go
2013 – started with 500 cars
47% ride transit less
63% drive same km
39% give up their car
35% drive less km.
Future public infrastructure
redesigning cities and public assets
libraries, parks, schools, transport…
community planning
3. imagine possible futures
focus on aspirationsengage artists and storytellers
start from our common values
Final Thought…
1980s
2000s
“We overestimate what we can achieve in one year
and underestimate what can be done in five …”
Sadhu Johnston – City Manager, City of Vancouver
Stephen Sheppard – University of British Columbia
Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning, UBC
Stephen Sheppard – University of British Columbia
Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning, UBC
Stephen Sheppard – University of British Columbia
Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning, UBC
1. Focus on collectives
2. Take advantage of the full range of city roles
3. Imagine possible futures
Strategies for sustainable living
Setting the Stage for a Sustainable FutureCameron Dodd, WILDEN
Introducing the SMART Growth Task ForceDavid Hendrickson, Real Estate Foundation of BC
Valuing the Link Between Community Planning & Human HealthVictoria Barr, BC Healthy Communities
Testing New Approaches to Target-Based Urban Centre PlanningRoss Soward, City of Kelowna
Sustainable Development SessionFacilitator: Cameron Dodd, WILDEN
Thank you