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Information for Developers

1. Anybody can use the One Planet Living (OPL) framework. The 10 One Planet Living Principles can be applied to a project with the aim of reducing its ecological footprint.

2. The ecological footprint of construction can be reduced by such measures as sourcing materials locally and seeking out reclaimed and low-impact materials.

3. The ecological footprints of the residents that will live there can be reduced by increasing the efficiency of resource use within the homes and incorporating green lifestyle elements such as reducing the need for cars.

4. BioRegional Consulting Limited provides a range of sustainability consultancy services to companies, organisations and individuals. They can be contacted directly for flexible and innovative solutions for sustainable living and infrastructure development. For more information please see: www.bioregional.com/consulting/index.htm

5. A development cannot be branded 'One Planet Living' without the express permission of BioRegional. See The definition of a One Planet Living Community below.

6. Branded developments have an approved Sustainability Action Plan in place based on the 10 principles.

7. BioRegional's work is focused on specific sites in chosen countries.

8. If you are interested in becoming a One Planet Living developer please contact Jennie Organ

The definition of a One Planet Living Community
During the programme we will be involved in a wide variety of green community projects, these will have many achievements but not all can be defined as One Planet Living Communities. For a community to carry the One Planet Living name, logos etc. they must work with us to meet all of the following criteria:
  • Address all ten One Planet Living principles
  • Have a sustainability action plan which sets targets against each of the ten principles
  • Are located in or near a major urban centre, close to national policy makers
  • Are exemplary and replicable
  • Have a high quality resource centre on site targeted at planners, policy makers and architects
  • Are to a scale where it becomes technically and financially viable to achieve the targets set out
  • Aim to achieve a one planet ecological footprint by 2020

Each of the six One Planet Living Communities will involve a Sustainability Action Plan which breaks down into ten principles. Each principle has associated detailed targets and methods for achieving them. We have established common international targets which explicitly state the minimum standards to be achieved by any OPL community.

Common International Targets for One Planet Living Communities
The table below summarises the OPL common international targets which aim to be achieved in the flagship communities by 2020. Examples of OPL project specific targets are provided using examples from the UK and Portugal project-specific Sustainability Action Plans.

Principle Common International Targets, by 2020 Common Targets - Summary
Zero Carbon

All buildings and structures should be zero carbon (powered by renewable energy), preferably from day 1 of occupation but certainly by 2020 at the latest. Renewable energy can either be generated on site or purchased from a dedicated off-site source representing new renewable energy capacity (so that we are adding to total renewable energy capacity, not diverting it from other uses).Country specific agreements on the profile to meet the 2020 target can be negotiated, but the profile must demonstrate rapid and clear progress towards the zero carbon target, especially given current rapid advances in the introduction of renewable energy technology globally.

All buildings and structures are designed or retrofitted to be energy efficient to country-specific best practice standards. Where such standards don't exist, apply a suitable standard from a neighbouring country within the region.

Although nuclear fission may be a bridging technology to reduce climate change in the medium term, it is not considered a renewable energy source for the purposes of OPL. Similarly, although use of fossil fuels with new technologies may be a useful way or reducing carbon dioxide emissions, e.g., on-site gas Combined Heat and Power systems, such solutions are not considered suitable for the purposes of demonstrating OPL, even if the resulting fossil fuel emissions from buildings are offset by carbon sequestration (contrast with Sustainable Transport).

All buildings and their fittings and fixtures must be energy efficient and supplied by renewable energy.
Zero Waste

Long term the aim is to "eliminate the concept of waste". By 2020, the following targets must be achieved:

  • at least 70% of waste by weight generated by residents and commercial operations within the developments should be reclaimed, composted or recycled;
  • per capita waste production should be monitored and targets set for reduction in per capita waste
  • clean energy from waste plant may form part of the zero waste strategy provided careful monitoring of emissions is in place and international best practice standards on operations are employed
  • ideally no more than 2% of waste by weight should be sent to landfill by 2020
  • country based best practice standards in waste minimisation during construction should be employed

Country based agreements on the profile to meet the 2020 target can be negotiated, but the profile must demonstrate a rapid and clear progression to the zero waste target especially given current rapid advances in the introduction of waste processing globally.

At least 70% of waste by weight to be reclaimed, recycled or composted and ideally no more than 2% should be sent to landfill.
Sustainable Transport

Country specific differences and locational issues mean that it is difficult to set a common international numerical target. Most importantly, whereas industrialised countries will need to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) from transport, poor countries may need to increase per capita CO2 emission from transport, at least in the short to medium term. However, in all cases, the EF arising from transport has to be consistent with the overall EF target of achieving One Planet Living (i.e., living within an EF of 1.5 hectares per person).BioRegional and WWF will agree sustainable transport targets on a case by case basis. These targets will be based on a transport CO2 per capita and will need to show reduction over an agreed regional benchmark and progression year on year towards a "One Planet Living" level. Given the CO2 contribution from transport in industrialized countries, these targets are likely to be very stretching. A simple sampling process for residents to monitor against this target must be developed.

Targets for travel within the site and to and from the site need to be set, in particular for projects with a major tourist component. For developments with a tourist component, CO2 per person per night can be used as an indicator.CO2 emissions from all remaining transport should preferably be offset by a certified carbon sequestration scheme, ideally meeting the WWF Gold Standard reference. For tourist projects, all air travel to and from the site must be offset by a certified carbon sequestration programme. Moreover, no OPL partner may formally oppose introduction of taxes on aviation fuel.

CO2 emissions of persons travelling to and from the site and within it must be reduced relative to an agreed regional benchmark. Ideally all unavoidable CO2 emissions from transport should be offset by a certified carbon sequestration scheme.

Sustainable
Materials

Via the common process guidelines detailed below, country-specific targets should be determined to increase and optimise the use of local, reclaimed, renewable, recycled and low environmental impact materials for construction and estate management phases of the development.

Use of local, reclaimed, renewable, recycled and low environmental impact materials in construction and estate management should be increased and optimised.
Local and
Sustainable
Food

Healthy diets high in local, seasonal, organic and low environmental impact foods should be promoted, given their consistency with a One Planet Living EF.

By 2020, a significant proportion of food should be locally sourced from low environmental impact farming with reduced packaging from a radius of 50 to 100 km from the centre of the site. Given the importance of food to eco-footprints, stretching targets are essential to achieving OPL. Specific targets will be set via the process guidelines detailed below, but a minimum target of 25% of food by weight must meet these criteria, and ideally 50% of food by weight.

Key Performance Indicators should be set for certified organic and fair trade food.

Country specific profiles to hit this target need to be agreed.

Healthy diets should be promoted and minimum targets achieved for supply of organic or low-environmental impact food and local sourcing.
Sustainable
Water

Country-specific best practice standards in water efficiency and recycling must be agreed, following the process guidelines detailed in section 4.3.2 above. These targets will need to be stricter in areas with water shortage problems. All residents must have access to safe potable water. Projects in areas of flood risk should have an acceptable 100 year flood risk strategy.

Water efficiency and recycling must be promoted in line with country-specific best practice.

Natural
Habitats and
Wildlife

The development must make a net positive contribution to local native biodiversity and natural habitats. Any key species must be identified and monitored, as part of a local conservation plan. A site-specific action plan to maintain, enhance or revive valuable aspects of biodiversity must be elaborated, following the process guidelines detailed below.

At least one opportunity must be identified to regenerate degraded local natural resource stocks (soils, trees, fisheries, etc) and a plan implemented. At least 2 case studies should be showcased, one for biodiversity and one for natural resource stocks.

Local biodiversity and natural resource stocks must be increased.
Culture
and Heritage

A site specific action plan to maintain, enhance or revive valuable aspects of local culture and heritage (including anything from local buildings and building techniques to local produce or arts and crafts) must be produced, following the process guidelines detailed below. At least 2 case studies should be showcased.

Valuable aspects of local culture and heritage must be maintained, enhanced or revived.
Equity
and Fair Trade

OPL communities are expected to improve the welfare of selected disadvantaged populations, whether on site or elsewhere. Country-specific priorities of equity and fair trade must be identified and targets set, following the common process guidelines detailed below. Where products are imported from developing countries, targets should be set for the proportion that must be certified fair trade [1]. At least 2 case studies should be showcased.

Targets must be set to boost the local economy, notably in disadvantaged areas, and to ensure a set ratio of imported goods are fair trade certified.
Health
and Happiness

A plan for promoting the health and happiness of residents must be produced, building on emerging findings from happiness research, following the process guidelines detailed below. Residents' satisfaction levels and concerns must be regularly monitored. Partners should also explore the feasibility of meeting UN standards for health, security and environmental quality. At least 2 examples of strategies to promote health and happiness must be showcased.

Health and happiness of residents must be promoted based on emerging findings from 'happiness' research and periodic residents' surveys


For some principles, such as 'zero carbon' and 'zero waste', there are clear quantitative common international targets. For other principles, such as 'sustainable transport' and 'culture and heritage', targets need to be set for a given community based on local opportunities and constraints via a reasonable process. This process should be straightforward and readily incorporated into the task of drafting the community's sustainability action plan (SAP). Steps in the process of setting community-specific targets should ideally include:

1. Set the project in national context using standardised datasets (e.g. ecological footprint, socio-economic indicators, carbon emissions, etc).

2. Generate any critical community-level data for principles in question, using existing data or proxy data where possible.

3. Convene meeting of key local and national actors (government, NGOs, etc) to brainstorm on priorities  : prospects for the community, ideally as an integral part of the SAP production process.

4. Work with partners to develop SAP internally first, and then in consultation with external stakeholders agreeing community targets.

5. Review SAP with BioRegional for endorsement as the basis for an OPL project.

To re-iterate, BioRegional reserve the right to have the final say on whether the project can be OPL endorsed. By keeping in close touch with BioRegional it should be possible to avoid any "surprises" in this process.

[1] 'Fair trade' certified products are assured to meet certain social and environmental criteria, most notably that often poor primary producers receive a wage that affords them a decent standard of living, including having access to sufficient food throughout the year and being able to pay school fees for their children.

Last updated 10th October 2008

 
     
One Planet Living Communities will aim to go even further than BedZED, e.g. by following zero-waste strategies.
The 10 One Planet Living Principles
One Planet Living for Developers
One Planet Living for Individuals
Watch our One Planet Living film
Contact
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For information on
WWF's One Planet Living campaign visit
www.panda.org/oneplanetliving
 
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