Smaller Cities Make Plans for Sustainability

Climate change is only the most visible symptom of our unsustainable way of living. In his new book, Paul Hawken writes about “the largest movement in the world.” The role of local government has to be seen in the context of this worldwide movement for sustainability.

Transforming the way we live is not simply a product of government decisions and actions. Movements operate simultaneously at a number of levels (international, national, and local) and across dimensions of society (governmental, social, economic, and personal). So, it’s important to emphasize that it is the movement that is driving change, and it is people who are driving the movement.

But with that understanding, I think it is clear that cities are where the action will be—particularly as we learn to model the change we want to see in the world.

Rick Cole

Full Story: http://verdexchange.org/node/120

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Smart Growth in Utah and the West

People are moving away from larger Eastern cities (with the exception of New York and Chicago) and heading West for the promise of a stronger economy and more outdoor recreation options. Denver, Tucson, Boise, and Las Vegas, were the primary recipients of those escaping the Eastern cities. But in the past few years Salt Lake City and Saint George have joined the ranks. As a result, rather than population growth coming solely due to the fruitful nature of the majority of our population. Today, Utah is now seeing substantial growth due to the Western migration population shift.

Full Story: http://www.utahstories.com/smart_growth.html