Ecomunicipality.com

Time to start getting more specific and tangible in the ecomunicipality movement.

One of the first things any village, town or city can do is to declare themselves an ecomunicipality.    To do this, the governing entity of that municipality simply passes a resolution stating in plain English what their principles are.  Not a big deal perhaps, but it does help on several levels.

First, it establishes the values and intention of that municipality to be part of the solution, rather than the problem when it comes to fossil-fuel and heavy metals consumption, as well as trying to do something positive for that area's natural resources. 

Second, it is the first step in a multi-step process designed to accomplish the goals  of The Natural Step program.  In case you have forgotten, here they are:

• Reduce dependence upon fossil fuels, extracted underground metals and minerals.
• Reduce dependence on chemicals and other manufactured substances that can accumulate in nature.
• Reduce dependence on activities that harm life-sustaining ecosystems.
• Meet the hierarchy of present and future human needs fairly and efficiently.

Third, it opens up the door for that municipality to begin applying for grants, aid and other funding targeted to "green initiatives", whether those sources are foundations, corporations or other units of government.

In fact, there is now a toolkit available for municipalities that lays out a suggested series of steps specific to a village or town, moving them toward a more sustainable and resilient footing.

The link is here.  (The URL: http://www4.uwm.edu/shwec/publications/cabinet/reductionreuse/Sustainabi...)

The steps discussed in the Toolkit, at a good level of detail, are the following:

 1. Convene a task force/committee/study group/green team.

2. Commit to becoming a sustainable community through a formal resolution.

3 . Adopt a guiding principle or framework for sustainability.

4. Establish a standing committee or advisory board to oversee implementation of the sustainable communityprogram and to further develop a strategic sustainable community plan.

5. Establish a department, reconfigure existing departments, or appoint or hire a
director of sustainable development.

6. Educate and train staff and officials across departments about sustainability.
7. Establish demonstrations.

8. Adopt Full Cost Accounting.

9. Measure, track, record, and report progress and results.

10. Publicize. Communicate the efforts and results to staff, local officials, and to the private, public, and non-profit sectors.

 There are sample resolutions from towns and cities that have already passed their respective bodies located on page 39 of the PDF linked above (Appendix 5).