A better world is possible - Global Commons Institute

Copyright Bruce Nixon 2010. All rights reserved. This electronic copy is provided free for personal, non-commercial use only.
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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
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