Sustainable Communities Network -- SCN Library

Core Elements of the
Sustainable Development Transition

There is growing consensus regarding the core elements of sustainability. These are things which, taken together, establish a comprehensive framework for approaching sustainability questions and issues. They provide a starting point for assessing how well public and private sector organizations are addressing the complex issues involved in the sustainability transition. These core elements include:

• Integration of environmental protection and economic development goals and the processes leading to their development.
  
  
• Development of inclusive processes that allow for participation of all the stakeholders.
  
  
• A long range focus for planning, analysis, project design and assessment, etc.
  
  
• Improved efficiency of resource conservation and use (water, energy, raw materials, etc.)
  
  
• Development and use of more environmentally benign technologies, processes, and products.
  
  
• Development and application of procedures for economic assessment and accounting that incorporate the impacts on and benefits from natural systems.
  
  
• Use of a variety of market forces and incentives to motivate environmentally benign corporate and individual behavior.
  
  
• Increased reliance on renewable resources.
  
  
• Comprehensive, integrated approaches to ecosystem management and protection.
  
  
• An informed and involved public that understands the dimensions of and keys to sustainability.
  
  
• A continually improving base of scientific, economic, social, and policy analyses and information to support improvements in the areas outlined above.

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