Features of Sustainable Communities

Economic Security (measures - disparities, local wealth, mutual assistance)
A sustainable community possesses a healthy and diverse economy that adapts to change, provides long-term security to residents, and recognizes social and ecological limits. Prosperity of a community's economy is based upon preservation of its assets and natural resource wealth by maximizing income generation while also maintaining or increasing the assortment of assets that yield these benefits and are key to its productivity. A more sustainable community has a variety of businesses, industries, and institutions which are environmentally sound (in all aspects) and financially viable, while retaining residents' money within the community. These businesses and institutions provide training, education, and other forms of assistance to adjust to future needs, furnish jobs, and enable employees to have a voice in decisions which affect them. Sustainable communities concentrate on qualitative development rather than quantitative growth and reduce the use of incentives that reward excessive consumption while failing to reflect losses in natural capital.

Ecological Integrity (measures - functional capacity of natural systems, environmentally-sound utilization of natural systems)
In sustainable communities environments and ecosystems are maintained both for their own essential natural functions, their beauty, their livability as a landscape, and their ability to provide sustainable supplies of natural resources and waste assimilation. Sustainable communities emphasize the importance of healthy, diverse ecological systems that continually provide life sustaining functions and other resources for humans and all other species. A more sustainable community is in harmony with natural systems by reducing and converting waste into non-harmful and beneficial purposes, and by utilizing the natural ability of environmental resources for human needs without undermining their function and longevity.

Social Equity and Well-Being (measures - respect for self/others, caring, connectedness, meeting basic needs)
A more sustainable community recognizes and supports people's evolving sense of well-being which includes a sense of belonging, a sense of place, a sense of self-worth, a sense of safety, a sense of connection with nature, and provision of goods and services which meet their needs, both as they define them and as can be accommodated within the ecological integrity of natural systems. A community that is truly sustainable provides for the health of all community members, respects cultural diversity, is equitable in its actions, and considers the needs of future generations. In this regard social equity implies that diverse social and cultural systems are preserved and that tensions are able to be resolved by distributing costs and benefits equitably. Sustainable communities consider intra-generational equity (e.g., elimination of poverty, viable levels of welfare, protection of public health, provision of education) and inter-generational equity (e.g. leaving the world in a better condition than we found it, protecting future generations' rights to opportunities of present generations).

Cultural Vitality (measures - existence of cultural values, ability to preserve history & culture for future generations, use of culture & history to advance societal learning)
The measure of institutions and means communities implement to retain their cultural heritage are a significant part of indicating a community's sustainability. Although the term may be new, sustainable development is not a new phenomena or concern. On the contrary, ideas of interdependence, self-sufficiency, celebration of unique skills, and longevity of civilizations date back thousands of years. It is not widely recognized but the seeds of our present concern with sustainability were first sowed around the beginning of the twentieth century with the conflicts that erupted in response to the widespread destruction of natural resources during the settlement of the U.S. There is much to be learned from society keeping a constant eye on the history of past civilizations, the cultural attributes that have developed in different societies through time, and the way their ancestors went about living, playing, working, and growing.

Citizen Engagement and Responsibility (measures - reaching out, equal/fair playing field, civic capacity, accountability)
A more sustainable community enables people to feel empowered and to take responsibility based on a shared vision, equal opportunity, ability to access expertise and knowledge for their own needs, and a capacity to affect positively the outcome of decisions which influence them. Public engagement is a participatory approach to managing a region in order to foster sustainability. It blends the concepts of good governance, participation, consensus building, the taking of civic responsibilities, and participatory strategic planning, which implies cooperative problem solving and the willingness of citizens to accept joint responsibility for actions that are sustainable. Although the sustainability movement is enjoying increasing visibility, it is for the most part restricted to circles populated by the converted. This is hardly a mass movement, and its political utility remains, in most regions, unproved. There is growing energy and enthusiasm, but proponents have still not succeeded in creating a broad-based movement.

Institutional Effectiveness (measures - effectiveness of governance, activities of non-profit organizations, influence of special interest groups)
One of our biggest challenges in trying to achieve sustainability is related to the limited understanding public officials and citizens have regarding principles and practices that provide the foundation and "springboard" for a place attempting to be sustainable. If decision-makers are expected to embrace "sustainable" economic development and promote this philosophy as a long-term view, whether it be for activities such as tourism that rely on quality natural environments, or it be some other form of business that is encouraged to be conducted in a sustainable fashion, these decision-makers must have a set of guiding principles (game rules) upon which they rely in making decisions and policy and seeing these policies are implemented in a way to encourage community sustainability. Community proponents must make citizens' voices heard in governance to achieve greater transparency in government decision-making and programs. Businesses, neighborhood and community groups, the media, and citizens, as well as governments, influence governance through participation.