Learning From Sweden's Eco-municipalities

North Americans learn sustainability methods and models from Sweden's eco-municipalities which use a democratic planning process called the Natural Step framework.

1 minute read

October 12, 2005, 12:00 PM PDT

By Brenda Meyer

"[Sweden's] 70 'eco-municipalities'...have voluntarily committed to integrating sustainability principles as official, across-the-board policy. From rural villages to the urban capital of Stockholm, the communities arrived at decisions and crafted innovative green solutions using a holistic, democratic planning process called the Natural Step framework (TNS). TNS combines a scientifically based definition of sustainability with a systems approach to community planning...

To become sustainable, societies need to meet four "system conditions": reduce or eliminate the use of substances extracted from the Earth's crust (like oil) and produced by society (like synthetic chemicals); reduce or eliminate the degradation of ecosystems (like sprawling development); and at the same time, meet human needs. Participants envision a better future, then figure out how to get there using community assets."

FULL STORY: Building Sustainable Cities: Scandinavia's "Eco-Municipalities" Show The Way

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 in Sustainable Business

Community / Economic Development Environment Europe

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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