Challenges and Opportunities in Measuring Success in Community Sustainability Planning Sandra K. Znajda, PhD, Independent Consultant & Associate Lura Consulting (Dr. Liette Vasseur, Brock University; Liz Nield, CEO, Lura Consulting) October17, 2013 CIC Impact Summit, Chicago 1

Presentation Overview 1. Community Sustainability Plans 2. Key Challenges 3. Opportunities 4. Next Steps 2

1. Community Sustainability Plans 3

Concept: Planning for Sustainability 4

Intentions To create a long-term plan or framework that works towards a Vision of sustainability - an “umbrella” document To increase awareness about sustainability To engage stakeholders and public as partners in change To provide strategic guidance 5

Community Collaboration Process Implementation and Monitoring Strategic Directions and Actions How will you reach your vision? Goals Where do you want to go? Vision Where are you Today? Develop Process Framework 6

Involvement Government-led Multiple stakeholders Community engagement 7

Structure Vision Goals Strategies List of Actions Implementation Plan Monitoring/ Evaluation Plan 8 Land Use Planning Water Waste Transportation Energy Natural and Cultural Assets Typically structured around identifiable themes

Example: Niagara Region Goal Statement: In 2060,Niagara will be an inclusive, engaged community that values culture, learning, and social development. Sample Action: Conduct a needs assessment of knowledge or skills in the community by consulting businesses, industry, educational institutions, and the public 8 Theme-based Goals 9

Indicators: Patchwork Quilt 10

Example: Niagara Region Vision Statement ElementsIndicators Integrated community Ample green space Clean air and water Learning community Leader in technology, innovation, research, economic development Culturally inclusive and welcoming Region of opportunity Proud of its values Food banks and homeless shelters not needed Vibrant, vital, accessible cores Indicator species abundance Average daily vehicular travel distance Walkability Greenhouse gas emissions Annual gross farm receipts Access to nutritious food basket Economic diversification Living wage Participation in community activities Volunteerism Voter turnout in municipal elections Physical and mental health 11

Example: Kingston Vision – Canada’s Most Sustainable City Cultural Indicators Employment in occupations related to arts/culture/recreation/sport Assets in city’s Heritage Register Voter turnout Residents by ethnic background Economic indicators Unemployment rate Job creation Employment by sector, occupation Entrepreneurship Infrastructure condition Transit & commuting mode Tourism revenue Preservation of agricultural land Environ-mental indicators Energy use GHG emissions Air quality index Residential water consumption Beach water quality Waste diversion rates Greenspace Dense treed areas Mix of land use Dwelling unit density Social Indicators Composite learning index Educational attainment High school graduation rate Access to physicians % population overweight Recreation program hours Community gardens Spending on nutritious foods number low income households Housing affordability Crime rates 12

2. Key Challenges 13

Indicator Selection Process 14 Which indicators? How many indicators? What resources are available to collect data?

Role of Indicators 15 Can the indicators fill multiple roles? ◦ Informing Council ◦ Identifying areas for improvement ◦ Communicating status to public Can indicators developed for other purposes be used for measuring sustainability in a community? Annual Gross Farm Receipts Living Wage

Characteristics of What is Being Measured Dynamic and non-linear Inter-connected Long-term horizon Influenced by outside factors beyond control of community Multiple layers of responsibility 16 Christmas Bird Counts

What is “Sustainability”? Each community has their own interpretation outlined in Vision. E.g.,: “A sustainable community is active, inclusive, safe, well planned and built, well run, well connected and thriving. A sustainable community offers equal opportunity(ies) and good services for all” -- Sustainable Kingston Plan (2010) “Caring communities balancing prosperity, well-being and nature” – Sustainable Peterborough Plan (2012) 17

What is “Sustainability”? “Sustainability” vs. “sustainable development” “Sustainability means meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” -- Our Niagara in 2060 Is sustainability an endpoint (with a target) or a process/way of being? 18

3. Opportunities 19

Making the Process Easier Municipalities want tools that are: Simple Easily communicated Reflective of local experiences Indicative of relative change Links indicators and actions Bottom-up and participatory Adaptable to local contexts 20

Shifting Focus? Towards assessing changes in process, perception, relationships, networks, e.g.: ◦ How frequently do municipal departments work together in problem solving? ◦ How is sustainability perceived and defined? ◦ How often is environment considered in economic plans and vice versa? 21 “..complex problems require strategies that entail changes in established patterns of action as well as in the structures in which they take place” (Regeer et al, 2009, AJE)

Draw from Work on Resilience? Information and knowledge Supportive networks Shared community values Community’s ability and willingness to adapt Environmental, social, economic, and human capital approach 22

4. Next Steps Establishing a cross-sectoral research partnership to further: ◦ Understand how sustainability is defined and experienced by Ontario communities ◦ Design a framework that can be used across Ontario municipalities to measure sustainability ◦ Test out with municipalities 23

Thank You Comments/Ideas/Questions? Sandra K. Znajda, PhD Independent Research Consultant & Associate, Lura Consulting 24 Liz Nield, CEO Lura Consulting Hamilton, Ontario Liette Vasseur, PhD Professor, Department of Biological Sciences Brock University St Catharines, Ontario