1. Sustainable Communities and Climate Change Littoral et vie 2002

2. Did you know that…..if the world’s population consumed water and energy resources, as well as food and other products at the same rate as North Americans do, we would need…4 or 5 more Earths to support the entire population...if the world’s population consumed water and energy resources, as well as food and other products at the same rate as North Americans do, we would need…4 or 5 more Earths to support the entire population.

3. A sustainable community… …is one which offers quality of life to its residents, a rich civic life and lives in harmony with the environment …is one which offers quality of life to its residents, a rich civic life and lives in harmony with the environment

4. Sustainable and livable communities Sustainable communities: will last and prosper Sustainable communities: will last and prosper Livable or healthy: better quality of life for humans and all other beings Livable or healthy: better quality of life for humans and all other beings

5. A community will be more sustainable if it is well thought out at different levels… Social: people attached to each other, that support each other and participate in public decisions Social: people attached to each other, that support each other and participate in public decisions Environmental: healthy and stable ecosystems and resources available for the long term Environmental: healthy and stable ecosystems and resources available for the long term

6. A community will be more sustainable if it is well thought out at different levels… Health: basic needs of people are met, low stress level, high level of health, access to a variety of experiences, resources and contacts in the community Health: basic needs of people are met, low stress level, high level of health, access to a variety of experiences, resources and contacts in the community Economic: varied economic resources, innovation in commercial and industrial operations and self-sufficiency Economic: varied economic resources, innovation in commercial and industrial operations and self-sufficiency

7. A community will be more sustainable if it is well thought out at different levels… Cultural: the architecture and events demonstrate a connection with the past and with the natural surroundings Cultural: the architecture and events demonstrate a connection with the past and with the natural surroundings

8. Connections between sustainable communities and climate change

9. Plan a town or a village where everything is close together : services, workplace, houses… Benefits : Less automobile circulation = less CO 2 Less automobile circulation = less CO 2 People can meet Better social cohesion = better capacity to work together in the event of extreme situations People can meet Better social cohesion = better capacity to work together in the event of extreme situations Economic? Economic?

10. Citizens carpool or use public transportation Better social interconnections Better social interconnections Less CO 2 Less CO 2 Environmental? Environmental?

11. Healthy ecosystems and richness of the biodiversity Better resistance to extreme events, freezing, thawing, storms and change in precipitations Better resistance to extreme events, freezing, thawing, storms and change in precipitations Economic? Economic?

12. Sustainable forestry: selective cutting, selection of species, replantation of indigenous species… Fewer forest fires and defoliating insects Fewer forest fires and defoliating insects Better carbon sequestration Better carbon sequestration Cultural? Cultural?

13. Sustainable agriculture Crop diversification and rotation, irrigation, increase of organic material in the soil, avoiding fertilizer and chemical pesticides… Crop diversification and rotation, irrigation, increase of organic material in the soil, avoiding fertilizer and chemical pesticides… Better resistance to droughts Better resistance to droughts Better carbon sequestration Better carbon sequestration Health? Health?

14. Steps to take to increase the health of citizens Security in town, incentives to do physical activity, to eat better (opening of healthy food restaurants…) Security in town, incentives to do physical activity, to eat better (opening of healthy food restaurants…) People will be more resistant to heat or cold waves, invasion of tropical virus… People will be more resistant to heat or cold waves, invasion of tropical virus… Social? Social?

15. Diversified economy: not centered on a unique resource If the resource disappears or is reduced with climate change, the community can still survive If the resource disappears or is reduced with climate change, the community can still survive Social? Social?

16. Plant trees and indigenous plants (for example alongside roads) People become aware of the natural elements in their community and they identify themselves to these elements (better protection) People become aware of the natural elements in their community and they identify themselves to these elements (better protection) Climate change? Climate change?

17. Avoid urban sprawl Compact communities Lower taxes because there is less infrastructure (pipes, cables, roads) Lower taxes because there is less infrastructure (pipes, cables, roads) Better water and air quality Better water and air quality Citizens are less isolated Citizens are less isolated Less CO 2 Less CO 2 Social? Social?

18. Citizens exchange or reuse objects or resources Less methane produced by landfills Less methane produced by landfills Social? Social? Economic? Economic? Climate change? Climate change?

19. Foresee slower circulation on roads with speed bumps, curves… in the town centre Social? Social? Environmental? Environmental? Climate change? Climate change?

20. Plant vegetable gardens and fruit trees in town Health? Health? Environmental? Environmental? Social? Social? Climate change? Climate change?

21. Rehabilitation of streams, forests… Social? Social? Environmental? Environmental? Economic? Economic? Climate change? Climate change?

22. Do sustainable communities exist? Yes, there are communities that have initiated actions to reduce their ecological footprint on Earth - in the USA, Spain, Canada, Scandinavian countries, etc. Yes, there are communities that have initiated actions to reduce their ecological footprint on Earth - in the USA, Spain, Canada, Scandinavian countries, etc.

23. Why improve the community ? For : The economy The economy Social cohesion Social cohesion Health Health Cultural life Cultural life The health of ecosystems The health of ecosystems Climate change Climate change It is up to each community to decide in which direction they want to take their development!

24. What strikes you as important about sustainable communities?