Sustainability through The Natural Step
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” -- U.N. Brundtland Report, 1987
Since early 2007 the City and County of La Crosse have been working toward the goal of becoming eco-municipalities through an understanding of, training in, and use of The Natural Step framework.
The Natural Step (TNS) framework was developed in Sweden in 1983 by a group of scientists led by Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt. Dr. Robèrt, a pediatric doctor, analyzed the increases in childhood cancer rates and the environment and made the linkage between environmental quality and human health. The Natural Step approach involves the use of a framework of four system conditions, and a four step planning process.
Creation of a joint City/County Sustainablity Commission
This presentation from 2007 demonstrates how the City and County of La Crosse have developed their plan through The Natural Step process. The efforts have been profiled by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters.
An overview of the history of the commission was provided by UW Extension Professor Karl Green at the first Sustainable La Crosse Commission meeting:
In 2009, the County and the City of La Crosse passed an ordinance creating a "joint long term Sustainability Committee." The first meeting of The Sustainable La Crosse Commission was held in January 2010 and included a retreat to review local government sustainability efforts, accomplishments, and proposed 2010 efforts. (Links to agendas and minutes of the first meetings is at the County of La Crosse website).
Read about the Sustainable La Crosse Commission
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” -- U.N. Brundtland Report, 1987
Since early 2007 the City and County of La Crosse have been working toward the goal of becoming eco-municipalities through an understanding of, training in, and use of The Natural Step framework.
The Natural Step (TNS) framework was developed in Sweden in 1983 by a group of scientists led by Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt. Dr. Robèrt, a pediatric doctor, analyzed the increases in childhood cancer rates and the environment and made the linkage between environmental quality and human health. The Natural Step approach involves the use of a framework of four system conditions, and a four step planning process.
Creation of a joint City/County Sustainablity Commission
This presentation from 2007 demonstrates how the City and County of La Crosse have developed their plan through The Natural Step process. The efforts have been profiled by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters.
An overview of the history of the commission was provided by UW Extension Professor Karl Green at the first Sustainable La Crosse Commission meeting:
In 2009, the County and the City of La Crosse passed an ordinance creating a "joint long term Sustainability Committee." The first meeting of The Sustainable La Crosse Commission was held in January 2010 and included a retreat to review local government sustainability efforts, accomplishments, and proposed 2010 efforts. (Links to agendas and minutes of the first meetings is at the County of La Crosse website).
Read about the Sustainable La Crosse Commission
