Tools/Sustainable Community/Localization
Organizations
Center for Livable Communities
From the Local Government Commission (LGC)-
Working to build livable communities. Extensive information and resources.
Communities by Choice
A national network of communities, organizations
and individuals committed to learning and practicing
sustainable development. Its website contains extensive resources and case studies.
Conservation Economy/The Pattern Map
On this site, fifty-seven patterns provide a framework for an ecologically restorative, socially just, and reliably prosperous society. They are adaptable to local ecosystems and cultures, yet universal in their applicability.
Congress for the New Urbanism
CNU is a Chicago-based non-profit organization working with architects, developers, planners, and others involved in the creation of cities and towns, teaching them how to implement the principles of the New Urbanism. These principles include coherent regional planning, walkable neighborhoods, and attractive, accommodating civic spaces.
Working to build thriving city and neighborhood centers while reversing sprawl development; to build whole cities based on human needs and “access by proximity” rather than cities built in the current pattern of automobile driven excess, wasteful consumption and the destruction of the biosphere.
EcoEarth - Environment Portal & Search Engine
An Internet search tool that provides access to reviewed environmental sustainability news, information retrieval tools, and original analysis and action opportunities.
GTI is a global network for elaborating visions and strategies for a future of enriched lives, human solidarity and a healthy planet. By addressing the need for a coherent, plausible, and shared vision, GTI complements the many admirable, but fragmented, efforts to shape our common future. Great scenario building tools.
Global Community Initiatives (GCI) helps communities move forward with confidence and enthusiasm to achieve their vision for a healthy environment, a vibrant economy, good governance, and a sense of connection to their neighbors and the world.
The Green Map System (GMS) is a locally adaptable, globally shared framework for environmental mapmaking. It invites design teams of all ages and backgrounds to illuminate the connections between natural and human environments by mapping their local urban or rural community.
ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability
An international association of local governments and national and regional local government organizations that have made a commitment to sustainable development. More than 475 cities, towns, counties, and their associations worldwide comprise ICLEI's growing membership. ICLEI works with these and hundreds of other local governments through international performance-based, results-oriented campaigns and programs.
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
ILSR provides technical assistance and information on environmentally sound economic development strategies.
"Giving more people more choices about how and where they want to live, while providing solutions to global warming, climate change, and peak oil"
Partners for Livable Communities
Working to improve the livability of communities by promoting quality of life, economic development, and social equity.
Post Carbon Institute/Global Relocalization Network
The Relocalization Network supports Local Post Carbon Groups as they work to develop and implement the strategy of Relocalization in their communities. Relocalization Network Coordinators support the Network by providing on-line communication tools, developing valuable resources, facilitating meaningful and useful connections between Local Groups and cultivating a sense of working together globally on local responses.
Smart Communities Network
Great resources, tools, links to articles and publications, and community success stories on a variety of topics from Community Energy, to Green Development, to Sustainable Business.
Around the country citizens are coming together to create a vision of what their community might be and to develop steps toward making these visions come true. This site is full of great resources and ideas, even though it is not up-to-date.
SustainLane’s 2006 US City Rankings
A nationwide study that measures the 50 largest cities in America on essential quality-of-life and economic factors that affect your personal sustainability.
A coalition of individuals and supporting organizations who work toward a world that is environmentally sustainable, socially just and spiritually fulfilling.
Focusing on understanding the root causes of unsustainable behavior in complex systems to help restructure systems and shift mindsets that will help move human society toward sustainability. Founded by Donella (Dana) Meadows lead author of Limits to Growth and Beyond the Limits.
Stop Sprawl
Sierra Club on livable communities. Lots of information and resources.
The Co-Housing Association of the United States
Building a sustainable society one neighborhood at a time. Cohousing communities combine the advantages of private homes with the benefits of more sustainable living, including shared common facilities and ongoing connections with neighbors. These intentional neighborhoods, created and managed by residents, offer an innovative solution to today's environmental and social challenges.
Across Canada, municipal governments are implementing innovative
projects that contribute to sustainable community development.
Truly sustainable projects take a holistic, integrated
approach where economic, social and environmental factors are
inextricably linked.
The Local Government Commission (LGC)
A nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership organization that provides inspiration, technical assistance, and networking to local elected officials and other dedicated community leaders who are working to create healthy, walkable, and resource-efficient communities.
A framework grounded in natural science that serves as a guide for businesses, communities, educators, government entities, and individuals on the path toward sustainable development.
Community Sustainability and Localization Sites
(see our Community Initiatives page as well)
Alliance for Sustainable Communities: Lehigh Valley
Individuals, organizations, small businesses, and farmers concerned about the welfare of the Greater Lehigh Valley, have developed a broadly inclusive set of interrelated principles in which diverse people and organizations can find their place. We believe that by uniting people and organizations the Alliance enhances the single-issue efforts of individual organizations to gain the effectiveness needed to establish community priorities in the face of powerful opposition.
Mission is to provide leadership and contribute practical solutions to ensure
a prosperous community where people and nature thrive, now and in the future.
Throughout the Hudson Valley, communities are struggling to reconcile two goals: growing healthy economies that can support a decent quality of life for all their citizens, while preserving and restoring the exquisite environmental and cultural heritage of the region. Sustainable Hudson Valley (SHV) is a voice of leadership for a new way of doing business that honors natural laws and human creativity.
Founded by Jules Dervaes in 2001, Path to Freedom is a not for profit, family operated, viable urban homesteading project established to promote a simpler and more fulfilling lifestyle and reduce one family's "footprint" on the earth's dwindling resources.
Red Feather educates and empowers American Indian nations to create sustainable solutions to the severe housing crisis within reservation communities. While focusing public attention on the intergenerational poverty and acute community development problems that plague American Indian reservations, Red Feather teaches affordable, replicable and sustainable approaches to home construction.
Sustainable Seattle is a resource and a catalyst for urban sustainability
City Repair was formed in Portland, Oregon in 1996 by citizen activists who wanted a more community-oriented and ecologically sustainable society. Born out of a successful grassroots neighborhood initiative that converted a residential street intersection into a neighborhood public square, City Repair began its work with the idea that localization (of culture, of economy, of decision-making) is a necessary foundation of sustainability.
Localvores are people committed to eating foods grown within their local food shed. They may have varying levels of commitment, but most recognize that there are multiple benefits to eating foods grown close to home.
Inspired by 4 "locavores" in the San Francisco Bay area, who challenged their community to a month of eating only foods grown within a 100-mile radius of home, 12 Upper Valley Localvores challenged ourselves to eating the 100-mile diet in August 2005. 20 of us tried a week in January 2006 (a challenge in northern New England!)and 80 in August 2006. Autonomous pods of localvores have sprouted up all over VT and NH such that there are pods in Burlington, Middlebury, Mad River Valley, West Brookfield, St.Johnsbury, Montpelier, Rutland and Brattleboro VT, and in Portsmouth and Keene NH, as well as our own Upper Valley, with 650-700 people challenging ourselves to eat locally.