Beginning with Cities and Creating Cultures of Sustainability

BEGINNING WITH SUSTAINABLE CITIES

Three reasons to develop a Culture of Sustainability, in cities first, are:

• Cities have large environmental footprints. Reducing their negative impact would support the health of the Biosphere
• Unhealthy city environments are harmful for many people. Sustainable cities would improve quality of life for millions
• Decisions made in cities control activities around the world. When cities are sustainable, decisions in them could drive sustainability around the world.

CREATING A CULTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN A CITY

Create a Culture of Sustainability with communication, resources, engagement techniques, and cooperation

People at a BEC Habitat Workshop. Photo: Y. Zhang

Engaging people to create a Culture of Sustainability requires:

1. Communication – modern communication transmits new ideas quickly, as noted under “The Speed of Cultural Change;”
2. Human resources – the energy and ideas of regular people are a vast resource that exists in every city, as discussed in “Sustainable Cities Through Human Capital.”
3. Techniques to engage human capital – For example, provided through the Biosphere Eco-City (BEC) approach;
4. A framework for cooperation – Also provided through the BEC approach.