A better world is possible - Global Commons Institute

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Copyright Bruce Nixon 2010. All rights reserved. This electronic copy is provided free for personal, non-commercial use only. www.brucenixon.com industries, such as urban forestry and lavender cultivation, and provide public green space and wildlife habitat. BioRegional is a world–wide organisation. Its ten principles are: BioRegional’s ten principles 1. Zero carbon 2. Zero waste 3. Sustainable transport 4. Sustainable materials 5. Local and sustainable food 6. Sustainable water 7. Natural habitats and wildlife 8. Culture and heritage 9. Equity , fair trade and local economy 10. Health and Happiness Here are more exemplars. You can use your browser for more information. There are countless examples, in USA for example, left out for lack of space. Countries Denmark, Germany and Sweden Denmark was the first country in the EU to introduce a tax on CO2, and it now generates almost 20 % of its electricity needs from wind power. Denmark is also one of the world’s leaders in combined heat and power generation as well as in harnessing energy from biomass. Denmark passed a law forbidding the construction of nuclear power plants. Germany has led the way in Europe in almost every respect: research, far-sighted development of waste disposal, energy saving and alternative sources of heat and power. Sweden has set an ambitious goal to achieve a completely oil-free economy by 2020 without building more nuclear power plants. Cities, towns and communities Brighton and Hove a mixed-use development in the New England Quarter, offering 172 eco-homes plus office spaces and areas for community use. Bristol is Britain’s first dedicated cycle city. Government is investing £100m to turn one city and 11 towns into centres of urban cycling. Between 3% and 4% of trips in Bristol are already made by bike, or approximately 12,000 journeys a day, a figure that has increased by 12% in the past year. The city's target is to increase cycling by 30% by 2011. Curitiba in Brazil embodies four exemplary features: First, a rapid bus transit system on dedicated highways that is so attractive, fast, frequent and reasonably priced, that it has got people out of their cars in a city with the highest car ownership in Brazil. Trade downtown has benefitted as a result of this and pedestrian zones. Bicycle paths have also been created. Second, a flood defence system created by forming beautiful lakes and parkland areas. This has paid for itself as valuable homes have been built beside these attractive areas. Third, a “Waste is Gold” scheme which has not only solved the city’s waste problem but given poor migrant people work and self- esteem. Again, it has paid for itself. Finally, new homes have been built for poor people that also incorporate work spaces and training has been provided - another social problem solved. Lessons are to be learned: the power of visionary, creative and collaborative leadership; getting things done quickly; a holistic approach; overcoming initial resistance by demonstrating benefits and addressing concerns quickly; using what exists - minimising demolition and new build; schemes that pay for themselves and solve more than one problem. Curitiba has become an 182
Copyright Bruce Nixon 2010. All rights reserved. This electronic copy is provided free for personal, non-commercial use only. www.brucenixon.com inspiration in North America and elsewhere. See the video: A Convenient Truth: Urban Solutions from Curitiba, Brazil. Dongtan in China. Arup, with advice from Herbert Girardet, is helping create the World’s first sustainable city, Dongtan. A multi-billion pound contract with British engineers will create a string of “eco-cities” – large, self-sustaining urban centres- throughout China, of which this is the first. These are intended to be self-sufficient in energy, water, and most food products and with zero emissions of greenhouse gases in their transport systems. Dongtan will be a vibrant city with green “corridors” of public space and a high quality of life for residents of all social classes. Farmland within Dongtan will grow food using organic farming methods. A network of cycle and footpaths will help achieve close to zero vehicle emissions. Havana. Cuba is well known for its pioneering work in adopting positive Climate Change and Peak Oil policies for saving energy and growing food organically. Havana is a model for urban agriculture and “sustainable city,” local, organic food growing on every bit of spare ground. About 90% of Havana's food supply is now produced in and around Havana, half in the city. Much of the food eaten by citizens is grown by communities, hospitals, old people’s homes and schools in beautiful organoponicos, enriched with compost from city waste. Surplus food is sold in community markets. There is a marvellous video about this entitled The Power of Community. Visit Cuba Organic Support Group (COSG) and Sustainable Cities. Merton Council and Sustainable Merton A community led initiative, Sustainable Merton, Merton Council has produced a Sustainable Strategy covering Energy, Planning and development, Waste, Transport, Water, Biodiversity and the natural environment, Environmental education and awareness raising, Procurement and fair trade and City knowledge. The Merton Rule standard has been adopted by many others. Sherwood Energy Village (SEV), is particularly interesting because it was created by active members of a mining community following the closure of the pit with the loss of 600 jobs in 1994 Sustainable Cities Website describes several innovative city projects including New York’s tidal energy harvesting, including two large-scale farms in the East Hudson River; Cairo’s modernising and sanitising of its already very resourceful waste collection system, which is founded upon the recycling efforts of a poor class known as the Zabbaleen; Vienna’s Bike City housing project, focusing on the needs of bicycle users, shifts money that would have been spent on cars to community areas, green space and other facilities that improve the standard of living; Malmo, Sweden which regained its original attractive status after adding green roofs and open storm water management. Three projects in Copenhagen – one to reduce noise and pollution on a street; another at the University, called the Green Lighthouse showing the world the incredibly high energy saving potential of buildings, helping maintain energy use lower than 2020 regulations require; thirdly the city and harbour area plan to create an entire new district covering an area of two to three hundred hectares in a capital city. Samsoe Island in Denmark: A model in self-sufficiency, Samsoe converted the island’s energy production from oil and coal to renewable energy. Local involvement has created a “social energy movement”; new transport solutions using biogas, waste dump gas and rapeseed oil and plans for electric cars. The island produces more electricity than it needs and export excess energy to the mainland. Samsoe Energy Academy shares its knowledge and experiences with the world. Vauban district, Freiburg, Germany with the following features: liveable streets; transportation encouraging car-free living and placing restrictions on private automobile ownership; design of a “neighbourhood of short trips”, or high density; an ecologically-friendly district heating system with renewable energy sources; a mix of social classes and priority for private developers and co-ops over corporate investors. Woking Borough Council is a microcosm of what can be done, like Bedzed, another “must visit” for any responsible local government leader, officer or councillor. Woking Borough Council has cut carbon-dioxide emissions by 77% since 1990 using a hybrid-energy system involving small private electricity grids, combined 183
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A better world is possible - Global Commons Institute

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