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

dagmar@oneearthweb.org