10/31/2003Morgan Ames, TaSED1 of 5 Healthy Cities: Indicators and sustainability Morgan Ames TaSED, Oct. 31, 2003

10/31/2003Morgan Ames, TaSED2 of 5 The Start of Sustainability Indicators Seattle sustainability movement –Frustration with industry-centric economic indicators Example: bad health = spending = good? –3 E’s of sustainability: environment, economics, equity Why are sustainability indicators important? –Can’t quantify, can’t publicize or politicize –Expose externalities and other factors economics can’t –Shift focus off of economic indicators

10/31/2003Morgan Ames, TaSED3 of 5 Community-defined indicators Why not leave it to the experts? –Many indicators are hard to conceptualize or just not interesting to day-to-day life –City planners have a behind-the-scenes view that may not make sense to many residents What good are community-defined indicators? –Make city information more accessible –Give residents a sense of what they can do to improve city health, and make their actions visible –Motivate policy-makers to discuss issues residents care about

10/31/2003Morgan Ames, TaSED4 of 5 Community-defined indicators Bay Area Alliance defined: 10 of 32 indicators shared SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY Gross Regional Product Income Distribution Median Income Personal Income Living Wage Income Unemployment Rate Poverty HOUSING SUPPLY Housing Supply Jobs – Housing Balance Population Density and Intensity of Land Use Housing Affordability Homelessness TRANSPORTATION Commuting Vehicle Miles Traveled NATURAL ASSETS Protected Land Brownfields Water Use Per Capita Berkeley defined: 6 of 13 indicators shared Schools Clean Air Resource Management (electricity, gas, water) Recycling Living Wage Individual Health Low Unemployment Streetlights and Safety Maintenance and Safety Pedestrians and Safety Public Events Money in Local Stores Racial Diversity Ecological Health of the Bay Ecological Footprint RESOURCE USE Energy Use Carbon Emissions Ozone Particulate Matter Waste Disposal and Diversion NEIGHBORHOOD INTEGRITY EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM Educational Performance Per Pupil Spending COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY Arrest Rates Insurance Coverage LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE Tax Revenue CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Voter Participation Diversity of Officials

10/31/2003Morgan Ames, TaSED5 of 5 Indicators in developing regions GDP is an bad progress indicator –“Informal sector” not counted –Example: effects of women’s education in Sri Lanka: birth rate and infant mortality down, health up, but no change in GDP What can replace it? … How can third-world indicators gain a foothold?