Self-sufficient neighbourhoods – Starting point for sustainable Urbanism - Niels van der Salm (2015)

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5. The use of Commons governing to create sustainable local-based economy Sustainable urbanism requires a combination of dense and diverse urban development together with a transition towards renewable energy, clean transportation, and sustainable (decentralized) utility systems. Evenly important to create sustainable urbanism is the transition towards a sustainable economy, which is less depended on relentless economic growth, profit, ownership, individualism, over-consumption and fossil-fuels (Jackson, 2009). Economic growth is close to see its limits due to climate change and resource scarcity and declining biodiversity. Technological development on the other hand has huge impact on present and future ways of living, exponential technological development has the potential to provide a large amount of new sustainable solutions. The internet of things and big-data enables people to live, produce and consume more energy efficient, while 3d printing brings opportunities for local production, distribution and sharing of products (Rifkin, 2014). The transition towards renewable energy and a sustainable economy have in common that they require new forms of governing, better capable of managing local communal assets, resources and utilities and both enhancing collaboration between local residents to achieve more efficient forms of city-life. Especially decentralized production of energy, products and utilities that operate on a local scale require a decentralized local form of management. Jackson (2009) highlighted three specific dimensions of the task to create a more sustainable economy in his book Prosperity without growth: 1) ―We have to establish ecological bounds on human activity. 2) There is an urgent need to fix the illiterate economics of relentless growth. 3) We must transform the damaging social logic of consumerism.‖ (Jackson, 2009, p.204).

According to Jackson (2009) social enterprises, that provide local food, health-care, goods, social-work and education, will become important to establish a sustainable economy. In a new economic system not in the first place determined by growth but also partly by (social and cultural) flourishing, decent livelihood and sustainable consumption, production and utility there will be an increased value of human (social) interaction and local meaningful work, seen in most social enterprises (Jackson, 2009). Important is that those social enterprises work on a community bases, with focus on local social connections, materials and resources, similar of what Jane Jacobs (1961) sees as signs of vibrant city-life often occurring in dense, diverse and mix-use neighbourhoods. Neighbourhoods thereby seem to be the realm of a sustainable economy, more focused on local business, collaboration and social interaction. ―Community-based ‗ecological‘ enterprises engaged in delivering local services: Food, health, public transport, community education, maintenance and repair, recreation; these activities contribute to flourishing, are embedded in community and have to potential to provide meaningful work with a lowcarbon footprint‖. (Jackson, 2009, p.196)

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