Thursday, April 29, 2004
Bringing Sustainable Practices to Your
Community or Business: What we can learn
from the Eco-municipalities of Sweden
with Torbjörn Lahti and Sarah James

5:30 to 7:00 pm
(registration begins at 5:00 pm – Book signing and reception with local organizations to follow. Display tables available for groups working on related issues
in the region)

Location:
The Ethical Society at 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square

Throughout Sweden, over 60 cities and towns of all sizes and shapes have adopted sustainability principles as official municipal policy, and have implemented these widely throughout their governments and larger communities. Achieving 100 percent freedom from fossil fuels in municipal operations, 90 percent solid waste recycling rates, over 200 new eco-enterprises in a small town with a former 25 percent unemployment rate are just a few of their countless accomplishments. Many communities in the U.S. and elsewhere are working on single-issue sustainable development projects and initiatives, such as green building, climate change, or sustainability indicators. In contrast, the Swedish eco-municipalities are working on sustainable development across the board, where thousands of municipal employees, citizens, and business people are systematically changing to sustainable practices.

About the Speakers:
Sarah James and Torbjörn Lahti, authors of The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns Can Change to Sustainable Practices will introduce the accomplishments of the Swedish eco-municipalities and show why they are particularly good models for communities in the United States. Torbjörn Lahti, who was the planner for Sweden’s first eco-municipality in the 1980s, is presently leading Sustainable Robertsfors, an international sustainable community demonstration project in Sweden. He was instrumental in the development of Sweden’s eco-municipality movement. Sarah James, a practicing city and town planning consultant, co-authored the American Planning Association’s Planning for Sustainability policy guide.

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Cost:
Sliding scale $10-$15
to cover speaker expenses,
students with ID free.
Refreshments provided!

RSVP:
RSVP by April 16th to merrian@sbnphiladelphia.org

Presented by:
The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, a project of the White Dog Cafe Foundation

Lead Sponsor:
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
Sponsoring Groups:
Alliance for a Sustainable Future, Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future, Clean Air Council, Community Energy, Earth Charter Citizens, Energy Cooperative, Environmental Leadership Program, Life Quality Project, Mt. Airy Greening Network, Native Energy, Niche Waste Reduction & Recycling, PA Interfaith Climate Change Campaign

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