Sustainable Parramatta
What is Sustainability?
Sustainability can mean different things to different people.
However, it is a concept that considers economic, social, and environmental aspects. It looks at how we can provide a good quality of life for ourselves and for future generations without having negative environmental, social or economic effects either now or in the future.
- Environmental, social and economic systems are inter-related.
- Other aspects such as culture and spirituality are also intertwined with the notion of sustainability.
- There are finite resources such as water and land that we all rely on for survival. We must live within these ecological limits.
- Human settlements need to reduce their ecological footprints (the impact they have).
- It is important to recognise the needs of future generations.
- Equity and human rights are critical in creating a socially just future.
- Sustainability requires caution.
- Accountability, transparency and engagement are important aspects to promote equality and justice through empowerment and a sense of global citizenship.
- Meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
- Take into consideration the social, environmental and economic issues and resulting impacts. By exploring each of these themes we are creating a sustainable City for the future and ensuring the wellbeing of our community.
- Ensure equity and fairness for all employees and those we come in contact with through consultation, inclusion and openness
- Seek to engender continuous learning in everything we do to support each other, the organisation and the community.
Parramatta Principles
ParramattaTwenty25 has been developed around the concept of sustainability and built on a foundation set by the following concepts:
- Melbourne Principles
- Ecological Sustainable Development
- Local Agenda 21
- Natural step framework
- Earth Charter
These have been brought together to form the Parramatta Principles which underpin a sustainable Parramatta.
The Parramatta Principles
Equity: social, economic and political equity; affirm gender equity and ensure universal access to education health care and economic opportunity; use natural resources equitably and efficiently; intergenerational equity: future generations have a right to an inheritance sufficient to allow them to generate a level of well-being no less than that of the current generation.
Inclusiveness: promoting a culture of inclusiveness, non violence and peace
Biodiversity: The variety of life in all its forms, levels and combinations. Recognise and conserve the intrinsic value of biodiversity and natural ecosystems, and protect and restore them. This includes ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity.
Protecting Life and Systems: Adopt patterns of production and consumption that safe guard human rights, community well being and earth’s regenerative capacity. Enable communities to minimize their ecological footprint and social impact
Precautionary Principle: adopt precautionary measures to anticipate, prevent or minimize the causes of adverse effects. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing such measures.
Respect for Place: Recognise and build on the distinctive characteristics of cities including their human and cultural values, histories and natural systems
Ethics: Ethics embodies the ideals we should strive for and how we should behave. This involves acting with respect, honesty, compassion, integrity, and act in the interest of the community which we represent
Good Governance: Empower people and foster participation, build democratic societies, strengthen democratic institutions, provide transparency and accountability in governance
Capacity: Expand and enable cooperative networks and social capacity building to work towards a common sustainable future
Basic Rights: Respect for basic rights for all social justice, diversity and freedom of expression, identity and belonging