assessing sustainability rio + 20

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Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP Wayne Feiden, FAICP (via videoconferencing Planning Director, Northampton, MA USA Assessing Local Government Sustainability , American Planning Association, PAS Report ASSESSING LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUSTAINABILITY RIO+20 UN CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABILITY

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Page 1: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Wayne Feiden, FAICP (via videoconferencing• Planning Director, Northampton, MA USA• Assessing Local Government Sustainability, American

Planning Association, PAS Report

ASSESSING LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUSTAINABILITY

RIO+20 UN CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABILITY

Page 2: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

How do we assess sustainability if we can’t agree on what it is?

…meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations… UN Bruntland Commission, 1983

…where {the environment can} …support no more individuals without a …continuing decline…

Aldo Leopold, 1933 (carrying capacity)

…we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.

Iroquois Nations (date unknown)

Page 3: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Environment Environment PlanetPlanet

EquityEquityPeoplePeople

EconomyEconomyProfitProfit

BLISS?BLISS?

Page 4: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Environment Environment PlanetPlanet

EquityEquityPeoplePeople

EconomyEconomyProfitProfit

Development CONFLICT

Prop

erty

CONFL

ICT

Resou

rce

CO

NFLIC

TPlanners mediateScott Campbell, 1996ons of Sustainable Development.” JAPA

First do no harm.links and trade-offsHecht, 2007

Page 5: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Three way Ying Yang?

Economy

Environment

Equity

Page 6: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

In Operation Terms?Not just Energy and LEED

First LEED Gold KFC/Taco Bell(car-oriented non-durable building)

Page 7: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Operation TermsGood Planning Stuff

Balance (first do no harm)Healthy urban centersPlacemaking

Source: Urban Edge Studio

Page 8: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Operation TermsResiliency

Beichuan, Wenchuan, Sichuan Earthquake

Page 9: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Operation TermsDurability

Page 10: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Community Conversation matters

OPERATION TERMSTRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Page 11: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Assessment ChallengesWhat is sustainability in local contextAccountability to local communityNational or international normingWhose agenda?Assessment resources

Page 12: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Indicators (story telling time)Easy to understandTells a storyEngages

Page 13: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Indicators

White SneakersMinneapolis Sustainability IndicatorBoston Indicator ProjectGenuine Progress IndicatorUN Commission on Sustainable DevelopmentUN Habitat Urban IndicatorsUS Interagency Working Group on Sustainable Development

Page 14: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Benchmarking and Metrics

Santa Monica: Sustainable City Report Card

Page 15: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Plan for and promote livable communities 14%

Zone for concentrated development & mixed use 19%

Expand housing opportunities 14%

Increase job and business opportunities 8%

Protect land and ecosystems 15%

Use natural resources wisely 5%

Promote clean energy 8%

Make transportation choice 6%

Advance equity 4%

Other sustainable development actions 8%

Massachusetts Commonwealth Capital(2003-2011)

Page 16: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Page 17: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Page 18: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Footprinting

Carbon and environmental footprint calculatorsEducationalIdeally test scenariosClinton Climate Initiative (40 megacities)

Greenhouse gas emissions Social cost one ton CO2=$43

New house in Houston $500> than San FranciscoSuburban Boston $200> Central BostonSource: Glaeser and Kahn, 2008

Page 19: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Comprehensive Instruments

Multiple criteriaLEED Neighborhood Development

Who decides

Page 20: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Comprehensive Instruments

ICLEI Star Communitiesaims to be the gold standardthird party, credible, and market acceptancenational standard and comparisonsNot customized or community buy-in

Page 21: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Unscripted & Ad-Hoc Assessments

Isn’t this what most of us do?No formal metrics or assessments

Page 22: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Context is everything

Hopi nation

Page 23: Assessing Sustainability Rio + 20

Assessing Local Government Sustainability Wayne Feiden, FAICP

Context is everything

Austin, Texas