Sustainable Communities Planning for healthy, livable communities in New Brunswick

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Sustainable Communities Planning for healthy,
livable communities in New Brunswick
Department of Environment
Ministère de lEnvironnement
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What is a Community ?

• A group of people who live and interact within
  a specific area. They have a common government
  and share natural resources, as well as the
  natural and built environment.

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What is a Sustainable Community?
a community that meets the present and future
social, economic and environmental needs of
todays citizens without compromising the
natural environment and the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.
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What are the Characteristics of a Sustainable
Community?

• good quality of life (livable, healthy and safe)
• population within the carrying capacity of its
  environment
• able to supply basic needs for its citizens
  (clean air, clean water, responsible land use,
  employment opportunities)
• sense of belonging to the community
• participation and stewardship
• strong economy
• effective governance

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Some Challenges to the Sustainability of NB
Communities

• guiding development
• water quality and availability
• climate change
• energy costs/ energy conservation
• loss of productive farmland
• demographic change
• aging of municipal infrastructure

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What can a Community do to be more Sustainable?

• adopt a vision and take a strategic approach
• help protect air and water
• implement strategies for energy efficiency
• create efficient infrastructure
• plan with respect to carrying capacity
• seek economic development approaches that also
  benefit the local environment and quality of life
• involve people in solutions

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How can DENV assist Communities to be more
Sustainable?

• provide advice and leadership on various topics
• provide information and links to information
• assist in developing partnerships between all
  levels of government, professionals and NGOs
• Provincial Planning Policy and Statements
• Sustainable Communities Initiative