Background

Using only the resources we need, and leaving the rest for nature and future generations

Sustainability is using only the resources we need, and leaving the rest for nature and future generations. We must create sustainability now because human activities are harming the Biosphere (sphere of life surrounding our planet) – the home for all plants, animals, and people.

There are dozens of great international sustainability programs. What do they have in common? A reliance on experts. Brilliant people and ideas moving us towards sustainability. But not quickly enough.

 

A faster way – create a culture of sustainability

 

Create a culture of sustainability based on human capital – the energy and ideas of people. When that happens, all key sectors – government, business, citizens – will incorporate sustainability in everyday activities.

BEC uses simple Themes and Tools to engage people

The Biosphere Eco-City approach (BEC) approach uses simple Themes and Tools to engage people and build this culture of sustainability.

BEC Themes include all areas of direct action for sustainability. They ensure all issues are discussed and people can connect on areas of common interest, such as: transportation, habitat, sustainable food etc.

BEC Tools make it easy for people to engage in sustainability. They help people learn, do projects, innovate and share ideas. Tools such as the Stakeholder Council or Sustainability Plans are community-based.

BEC is intended for any city

BEC focuses on sustainable cities, to produce the quickest results:

  • Reducing urban impacts on the countryside;
  • Eliminating unhealthy urban environments;
  • Spreading sustainability around the world.

BEC activities can address climate change

All BEC activities are flexible. This makes them good mediums to address climate change. For example:

  • Helping people choose their most effective area of involvement,
  • Creating community agendas for climate action,
  • Adapting projects to evolving conditions.

Further information on Background

Challenges for Sustainability
Sustainability is the Environment with People Sustainability addresses the environment and people together, with a goal of achieving harmony. We care about the environment, and we can respect the Deep Ecologists (read Arne Naess). But we want benefits for people too. Every BEC Theme has a human element. This includes even the Theme of Habitat, […]
Definition & Need for Sustainability
Origin of BEC Approach – a story
Inspired by Biosphere Reserves In 20 years of coordinating Canada’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BRs), J learned about sustainability from many people. BRs are outstanding examples of the world’s terrestrial and coastal ecosystems. Managers promote sustainable development in BRs. When UNESCO began looking for an urban initiative, J drew from BRs to create what became BEC. […]
BEC and Climate Change
Enterprise for Sustainability
Wreath Making. Photo: Hillary Ungson on Unsplash Enterprise means “willingness to venture, undertake a bold venture, use energy and initiative” (Webster and Oxford Dictionaries). We need enterprise in order to create innovative solutions to issues of sustainability. Governments and universities encourage this Innovation. But a top-down approach misses a broad source of innovative ideas. Any […]
Relation of BEC to Other International Programs
Sustainable Cities Through Planning
Malmo, Sweden, a planned city. Photo: Metropolitaneando on Pixabay Most of the world’s cities do not have enough resources to become sustainable through planning alone There has been remarkable progress in sustainable city planning. Beginning in Curitiba, Brazil, the movement has spread worldwide. Yet making a city sustainable only through planning is not easy. Good […]
Benefits of a Biosphere Eco-City
Three Biosphere Eco-City Principles
1. One Focus on Human Interaction with the Environment BEC addresses people and the environment together, to achieve harmony. There is no social or political agenda. Just an essential focus on engaging people in a culture of sustainability, to create a unified human-environmental system. 2. One Table to Welcome Everyone BEC welcomes everyone to its […]
Focus on Cities
Sustainable cities reduce urban impacts, export ideas of sustainability worldwide, and improve quality of life. BEC focuses on cities for three reasons: Reduce environmental footprints of cities – Inflow of resources, outflow of impacts (waste, pollution etc.) from an urban area, including urban expansion, can affect much of the countryside. Reducing negative outflows could reduce […]

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Hero photo

Park on hillside and houses

Photo by Polina Chistyakova on Pexels

 

Picture 1

Children’s Garden

Children’s Garden Ottawa. Photo by J. Birtch

 

Picture 2

Historic brickworks and red leaves

Don valley Brickworks from Wikipedia Commons

 

Picture 3 (slider)

Tree-lined park

Photo by Luis Dalvan on Pexels

 

Picture 3 (slider)

Greek town (slider)

Photo by Alex Azabache from Pexels

 

Picture 3 (slider)

Solar panels in park

Image by Jude Joshua on Pixabay

 

Picture 4

Path & rail in park

Photo by Luis Dalvan on Pexels

 

Sustainable cities through planning

Fountain in front of modern buildings

Image by Viateur Beaulieu from Pixabay

 

Benefits of BEC

Aerial of park with trees

Photo by Nerea Marti Sesarino on Unsplash 

 

BEC & Climate change

Green & desert side by side

Photo by enriquelopezgarre on Pixabay

 
       

Focus on cities

 

 

Carapicuiba, Brazil

 

 

Photo by Gonzagas on Pixabay

 

Definition & Need for sustainability

Woman hiking

Photo by silviarita on Pixabay

 

Relation of BEC to other international programs

Aerial of large city

Sao Paulo. Photo by J. Birtch

 

Sustainable cities through human capital

Students in front of Woodroffe High School

Woodroffe High School. Photographer unknown

 

Three BEC Principles

Hands on log

Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash

 

Challenges for Sustainability

Small plant in coins

Photo by Michelle Henderson on Unsplash

 

Enterprise for Sustainability

Woman embroidering

Photo by apnear40 on Pixabay