Session 4: Eco-Economic Development and Ecological Schools/Education

Reading: Please read chapters 9 & 10 of "The Natural Step for Communities" before meeting with your study circle for Session 4.

Questions: Please consider the following questions while reading the relevant chapters of the book, and use them to guide discussion during your study circle.

Questions related to Eco-Economic Development:

  1. What are the basic needs of a community (a city or town) and the people who live in it, regardless of its size?
  2. Starting with the most basic needs, what can happen if and when each of these basic needs cannot be met inside the community?
  3. The terms "social equity," "social capital" and "environmental justice" are expressions frequently used to describe the relationship of people to the concept of sustainability. Examine how the fourth sustainability objective - meeting human needs fairly and efficiently - includes, or relates to these concepts.
  4. Are there examples of community or neighborhood eco-economic development and community building going on in your region? Describe these, and how they relate to the four sustainability objectives.
Questions related to Ecological Schools &: Education:

  1. Explore how the schools in your community are or are not meeting each of the four sustainability objectives.
  2. How might a school building and property such as the one(s) in your area be redesigned so as to go in the direction of the four sustainability objectives?
  3. Do any of the schools in your area teach environmental education? What is included in environmental education? Are there nature centers or organizations in your community that offer environmental education?
  4. Are there any schools in your area that have "green" features? Are these being showcased?

Locally

While there are currently few businesses in the Portsmouth region that are working with a "green" business plan, there will be increasing opportunities to work with and support local businesses trying to improve the way they do business and serve our commercial demands. One way to begin thinking about greener business planning is to encourage local buying, asking for locally produced products and produce and encouraging vendors who pay attention to the details such as packaging and bagging. Our public schools required environmental education programs can be adapted to include the concepts of long term planning and sustainability. Currently the Portsmouth High School has an Environmental club that is interested in promoting the concepts of sustainability within the school department. They are pursuing issues of using alternatives to the current disposable lunchroom products.

UNH Office of sustainability

In 1997, UNH began integrating sustainability into the University's identity, practices, and land grant mission - an unprecedented commitment to sustainability on UNH's part. To help UNH meet this commitment, the UNH Office of Sustainability (OS) was established with a generous gift from an anonymous alumnus to endow the program. OS is charged with collaborating with faculty, staff, administrators, and students to integrate the principles and practices of sustainability throughout UNH's "CORE" - curriculum, operations, research, and engagement with local, state, regional, national, and international partners. OS is the longest-standing endowed university sustainability program in the nation.

Study Guide Chapters

Select from the sections below to view questions:

  • Overview: Guideines, Facilitators, Openings and Circle Questions
  • Session 1: Introducing the Natural Step Framework and Sustainability (Chapters 1, 2 & 3)
  • Session 2: Changing to Renewable Energy Resources and Alternative Transportation (Chapters 5 & 6)
  • Session 3: Eco-Housing and Green Building/Business (Chapters 7 & 8)
  • Session 4: Eco-Economic Development and Ecological Schools/Education (Chapters 9 & 10)
  • Session 5: Sustainable Agriculture and Dealing with Waste (Chapters 11 & 12)
  • Session 6: Protecting Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use and Planning (Chapters 13 & 14)
  • Session 7: What Gets in the Way of Change and Three Change Processes That Work (Chapters 15 & 16)
  • Session 8: Steps to Change and Process Leader (Chapters 17 & 18)

Further Resources and Readings

Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution, by Paul Hawken, Amory B. Lovins & L. Hunter Lovins (1999)

Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in a Global Age, by Michael Shuman (1998)

Northeast Organic Farming Association: The New Hampshire chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association
www.nofanh.org

Organic Living: An on-line resource for organic products, services and ideas
www.organicliving.com

Home Power Magazine: Small-scale renewable energy resource
www.homepower.com

Greenbiz.com: Features a toolbox of checklists, assessments, briefings and hands-on help for a variety of sustainable business issues.
www.greenbiz.com

GreenBlue.org: A non-profit institute that stimulates the creating redesign of industry by focusing the expertise of professional communities to create practical solutions, resources and opportunities for implementing sustainability.
www.greenblue.org