Model Principles

Model Principles for Sustainable Communities

A sustainable community is one which:

• Recognizes that growth occurs within some limits and is ultimately limited by the carrying capacity of the environment
• Values cultural diversity
• Has respect for other life forms and supports biodiversity
• Has shared values amongst the members of the community (promoted through education)
• Employs ecological decision-making (e.g., integration of environmental criteria into all municipal government, business and personal decision-making processes)
• Makes decisions and plans in a balanced, open and flexible manner that includes the perspectives from the social, health, economic and environmental sectors of the community
• Makes best use of local efforts and resources (nurtures solutions at the local level)
• Uses renewable and reliable sources of energy
• Minimizes harm to the natural environment
• Fosters activities that use materials in continuous cycles.

And, as a result, a sustainable community:

• Does not compromise the sustainability of other communities (a geographic perspective)
• Does not compromise the sustainability of future generations by its activities (a temporal perspective).

Source: Ontario Round Table on Environment and Economy

To find out what words in green mean, see Definitions.