Towards Management Systems and Protocols - Evaluating Sustainable Development in the Built Environment - page 192

Global norms, Conventions,
Protocols and Agreements
(e.g. Kyoto Protocol, Global
Campaign on Good Urban
Governance)

National policies and
programmes (e.g. DFA,
Environmental
Conservation Act, NEMA,
working for water)

Global

Nation/state
Region/province
City
Community/
neighbourhood
Household
Individual

Provincial/regional
strategies (Bioregional
Planning, EIP,
Implementation of ECA
regulations)
Initiatives and projects
(recycling, education, tree
planting)

Plans, initiatives and
strategies (state of the
environment, sustainable
Building Codes, Urban
form, transport
technology, etc.)

Water saving devices,
recycling programmes,
energy saving techniques
and technologies, transport
choices, lifestyle choices

Lifestyle choices
(products consumed,
methods of using
products and resources,
choice of living
environment, travel
modes)

Figure 8.3 The sustainability complex. (Source: Mathew Cullinan, MCA Planners,
South Africa, 2003.)

The city is the fulcrum between policy and enabling action. it is the level at
which system of delivery can be influenced and manipulated to ensure self-
interest is aligned with societal good.

Global

Nation/state
Region/province

CITY LEVEL INTERVENTION IS KEY

Increasing degree of
personal control and
impact in terms of
lifestyle, consumption
and production changes
and choices

Moving up the triangle,
the effectiveness of action
at each level is affected by
the degree of supporting
environment and action in
the level above

Community/
neighbourhood
Household
Individual

Rough division between policy level and
physical action/implementation level

Figure 8.4 What is the significance of the city? (Source: Mathew Cullinan, MCA
Planners, South Africa, 2003.)

The Vancouver study

One of the most interesting challenges presented in recent years was
the International Gas Union competition to determine a sustainable
city in 100 years' time. It was set appropriately in the millennium year
of 2000 and nine cities were invited to compete. The winner was