BasicGov / BLOG

Ahead of the Curve Introduction

Over the next month we’ll be publishing a series of blog posts from the white paper authored by HB Lanarc and sponsored by BasicGov. The blog posts are to invite comments and discussions directly with one of the authors, Peter Whitelaw. To read the full white paper titled “Ahead of the Curve: How Leading Local Governments are Benefitting from Sustainability and Other Trends“, click here.

Sustainable development – “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” – is a defining challenge of our time, but it is also a promising approach to solving complex, interrelated issues.  Indeed, leading local governments, from Whistler to New York and Albuquerque, have embraced sustainable development as a way to live up to the strong visions of their citizens.  These leaders manage trends proactively, identifying them and then “getting ahead of the curve” in order to ensure development is sustainable in the long term.  To illustrate the benefits of sustainable development, this white paper summarizes six trends affecting local governments, and highlights leadership responses in a key area of local government activity: development review and approvals.

Trends: We are seeing six major trends in municipal management in the 21^st century, including a move to adopt sustainable practices. Leading communities are taking on all of these, and are leveraging benefits through their response to each trend.

Trend 1: A Drive to Sustainability

Now widely adopted, the concept of sustainability is increasingly driving local government action – in Canada for example, significant funding is tied to sustainable community plans. The most pressing of sustainability issues is climate change – it has become a leading driver of policy and regulatory change worldwide. Nevertheless, the core concept of sustainable development is an economic imperative – we must maintain the environment that supports us if we are to ensure lasting prosperity. Practically, this imperative means using limited resources efficiently, and distributing benefits equitably.

For communities struggling to compete in a global economy, the imperative is to adopt a proactive response (as noted above). Finally, for local governments, it means ensuring high social, economic, and environmental performance by managing community development. Leading municipalities are leveraging their policies, regulations, and their permitting and licensing processes to achieve this performance, while maintaining a competitive and prosperous economy.

Watch for Trend 2 later this week; next week Trends 3-4. Series will continue until March 16.

Post a comment or question and I’ll respond or email me directly Peter.Whitelaw@hblanarc.ca.