Basic Principles of the Green Cities Project

• Basic Principles
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Basic Principles

The Green Cities Project is guided by the principles of sustainability

Sustainability is the method that ecosystems use to perpetuate themselves. "To Green" or "To Make Sustainable" are very similar concepts. In order to make our cities sustainable, we can follow the principles by which ecosystems sustain themselves.

There are three basic principles of ecosystem sustainability:

• Disposal of waste and replenishment of nutrients or resources by recycling
• Using sunlight as the source of energy
• Maintaining the size of consumer populations so that overgrazing or other overuse does not occur

There are also some basic principles that guide Green City visionaries, and these include:

• Ecological sustainability
• Social justice
• High quality of life for all community members

While these are broad and vague principles, those who strive to create Green Cities tend to hold these principles as the foundation for their work.

Basic Principles Links

Ontario Roundtable on Environment and Economy - a set of principles that defines a sustainable community.
The Participatory City - A discussion Paper. This paper looks at European cities and ways to make them sustainable both environmentally and socially.
Discussion of Sustainability Paradigms.

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This website is a part of the Green Cities Project. It is currently being maintained by web@greencitiesproject.org. The last update to this page was made on December 10, 2000.