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Sustainability

The World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission), defined "sustainable development" as follows in the report Our Common Future (Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1987):

"Sustainable development is development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs. It contains
within it two key concepts: the concept of "needs", in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs."

Sustainability can encompass many things and can be pursued on several different levels and scales. This section of the Open Directory addresses global-scale sustainability, regional and community sustainability, and sustainable living in daily lives. ("Think globally, act locally.")

Sites in Sustainability

Sustainable Development Department
of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), providing multilateral financial assistance for Latin America and the Caribbean. Provides technical advice to Bank project teams, and creates and disseminates knowledge on sustainable development issues with three divisions: Social Development; Environment and Natural Resources; and Infrastructure and Financial Markets.

WWW Virtual Library: Sustainable Development
Comprehensive list of internet sites dealing with sustainable development, including organisations, projects and activities, electronic journals, libraries, references and documents, databases.

Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development
Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy. Site resources and links are related to community sustainable and sustainable living.

IISDnet
International Institute for Sustainable Development. Focus is on sustainability at the global, regional, and community scales.

Living Room - A Place for All of Us
Web magazine and forum dedicated to discussions of sustainable living practices in human communities, with emphases on transportation, urban design, environmental and economic justice, community, and energy efficiency. Topics include Bike People, Suburbia Project, and Sustainability.

Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
Independent, international research institute specialising in sustainable development and environment issues at local, national, regional and global policy levels. Aims to clarify the requirements, strategies and policies for a transition to sustainability. These goals are linked to the principles advocated in Agenda 21 and the Conventions such as Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection and Biological Diversity.

Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR)
The ILSR is a nonprofit research and educational organization that provides technical assistance and information on environmentally sound economic development strategies.

Requiem
by Jay Hanson. Essay on sustainability.

GPI Atlantic - Genuine Progress Index for Atlantic Canada
Non-profit research group developing an index for measuring sustainable development for Nova Scotia, integrating social, economic, and environmental variables.

Izaak Walton League Sustainability Education Project
The Sustainability Education Project was formed to help bring human population growth, economic development and natural resource consumption into balance with the limits of nature for the benefit of current and future generations.

Context Institute
Explores how human society can become sustainable, and serves as a catalyst for voluntary change toward a more humane and sustainable culture.

European Partners for the Environment (EPE)
Network of European organizations, companies, trade unions and related groups working on sustainable development. Site has extensive resources on links on sustainability at all scales. Special topics include green purchasing, sustainable tourism, and Europe-specific environmental sourcebooks.

Global System for Sustainable Development
A project of the Global Accords Consortium for Sustainable Development housed at MIT. GSSD consists of an index to some of the best resources and materials on sustainability on the Internet.

Sustainability in Canada
National government site in Canada on sustainability: Facts and opinions.

WWW Encyclopedia of Sustainable Development
Sustainability information for use at all levels, from that of senior decision makers at the national and international levels to the grass-roots and individual levels.

Best Practices in Sustainable Development
Searchable database cataloging over 650 good and best practices from more than 90 countries on how people, their communities, the public and private sectors have been able to tackle critical social, economic and environmental problems.

Lightstone Foundation and Community Development Corporation
A regional center for sustainable family farming, natural resource management, and rural community-based development, enhancing the social, economic, and environmental vitality of West Virginia and Virginia rural mountain communities by supporting sustainable enterprises.

InterGarden
Web links and archived contents on regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, permaculture, bioregionalism, and related topics.

Towards Sustainability
UK site with links and resources for sustainable development initiatives.

Second Nature: Education for Sustainability
Nonprofit organization working to help colleges and universities expand their efforts to make environmentally sustainable and just action a foundation of learning and practice. Organization information and resources for promoting sustainability.

The E.F Schumacher Society and Library
Organization promoting social and environmental sustainability through decentralism. Information on philosophies, projects and lectures; community-oriented economies, local currencies, community land trusts, and similar measures.

Global Environment and Technology Foundation
Information resources promoting the development and use of innovative technology to achieve sustainable development.

Sustainable Architecture Building and Culture
A unique compendium of links for those interested in sustainable design and building. A good start, when moving toward making life easier on the earth.

5th World Network for Sustainable Development
Networking and education for individuals and communities interested in sustainable development, permaculture design, and bioregional resource protection.

Center for Watershed and Community Health
The Center assists communities, business and government to enhance the economy and environment by developing strategies to decouple economic growth, job creation and community development from environmental impacts.

Regional Information Service Centre for Southeast Asia on Appropriate Technology
Resource on appropriate technologies in the fields of sustainable agriculture, waste management, textiles and renewable energy, primarily in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Yunnan province in China.

Sustain Magazine
Website about sustainable development in the construction, engineering, planning and property sectors. Searchable listings of sustainability events, searchable index, and sample articles. Focus is on the UK.

Sustainability Institute
A "think-do tank" dedicated to sustainable resource use, economics, and community. Providing information, analysis, and practical demonstrations that can foster transitions to sustainable systems at all levels of society, from local to global. Limited information on website.

Tools of Change: Proven Methods for Promoting Health and Environmental Citizenship
Case studies, planning guides and worksheets for programs to promote healthier and/or more environmentally sustainable actions and habits.

The Knossus Project
US based research and development firm that promotes integrated sustainable systems.

Green Alliance
An UK organisation that aims to promote sustainable development by ensuring that the environment is at the heart of decision-making.

Your Planet Earth
Objective is to help create a sustainable society. Has news, discussion forums, publishes articles from its user group.

ZeroEmission
The ZeroEmission Initiative of Fraunhofer ICT, University Stuttgart IKP and PE Product Engineering Ltd, with news, projects, links.

Sustainable Enterprises
Ideas and solutions for sustainable living, businesses and communities.

Greening Australia - Southeast South Australia
Diverse information about sustainable agriculture, native ecosystems, and issues in the South East of South Australia and Western Victoria. Sample topics are bush regeneration, farm forestry, coastal ecosystems.

Sustainability Web Ring
The webring focuses on the efforts of organizations to achieve sustainable development.

Looking for Oregon's Future: What is Sustainability?
An exploration of the definitions, issues, and efforts related to sustainability, both in Oregon and other places.

Environment Canada: Sustainable Development
Portal to information on balancing economic, environmental, social, cultural, health and political needs in the management of natural resources to maintain quality of life and ensure viability in the future.

Institute for Social, Economic and Ecological Sustainability
Center for interdisciplinary study of sustainability issues at the University of Minnesota, including: biosafety, organic aquaculture, population and risk assessment of transgenic organisms.

Sustainable Systems
New Zealand organization offering workshops, consultancy, and other education, training and support, to further the particular goals of a business or organization while advancing a sustainable environment.

Forum on Science and Technology for Sustainability
Facilitates information exchange including key documents, events, web sites, ideas, and discussions within the emerging field of sustainability science.

Ecocomposite
Homepage of Prof. David Bainbridge. Information and articles about agroforestry, sustainable building, and environmental restoration. Also, technical consulting services. List of natural fibers. Technology and materials descriptions.

Novatlantis: ETH
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich initiatives for sustainability, energy, ecology and economy. Includes information about current projects and upcoming events. English/French/German.

Redefining Progress
Nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that develops policies and tools that shift the economy and public policy towards sustainability. Includes how to help, news, and a list of projects and programs.

Favorite Destinations of Liberty Graphics
Links to online resources for sustainable agriculture, ecology, wildlife, organic farming, and other environmentally concerned companies.

Community Action Network
Works towards sustainable social, health, educational, and economic outcomes through engaging the community in a planning and implementation process that coordinates public, private, and individual actions and resources. Includes issue information, legislative agenda, reports, and calendar of events.

Environment Canada Sustainable Community Indicators Program
About the use of the environmental indicators approach in Canada -- includes data on indicators which represent or summarize a significant aspect of the state of the environment, natural resource sustainability and related human activities.

Albemarle Environmental Exchange
A site for promoting environmental protection and sustainable development. Contains news, ideas, articles, resources and links.

Pee Dee Resource Conservation and Development Center
Purpose is to promote conservation and sustainable rural development. Includes archived newsletters council members, events calendar, historic markers, and educational articles. Located in South Carolina.