UNA-ORLANDO - Community Quality of Life Sustainable Living

COMMUNITY, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING

"By 2050, the world’s population may reach a whopping 10 billion and with more people comes more demand for – food, fashion, travel, housing and related aspirations. An increasing number of people are unable to meet basic needs while two to three billion new urban consumers and youth will receive the majority of their information from social media. In a world stretched thin for resources and under the threat of global biodiversity loss and climate change, our lifestyles decisions are putting the planet at risk. We need targeted action." - UN Environment Programme

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LEARNING RESOURCES

The Social Value of Public Spaces

Community Gardens

Dangerous by Design

Car-Free City and Quality of Life

Sustainable Development and Sustainable Living

Quality of Life by U.S State. What goes into the score that measures quality of life? National environment that measures drinking water quality, pollution and industrial toxins, and air quality. Also social environment that measures community engagement, social support and voter participation. Click on the photo to see the full list.

LEARNING RESOURCES

Background

Ten reasons to build community through urban designThere are two models for development of cities and towns. One, the neighborhood model, founded on thousands of years of trial and error, brings people together.

The U.S. dropped majorly on the index that measures well-being — here’s where it ranks nowOnly America, Brazil and Hungary are worse off now than when the Social Progress Index began a decade ago

Americans say they're changing behaviors to help the environment – but is it making a difference?Most Americans say they're changing at least one everyday behavior to help protect the environment, but are they doing enough to make a difference?

The Social Value of Public Spaces

Having a Library or Café Down the Block Could Change Your LifeLiving close to public amenities—from parks to grocery stores—increases trust, decreases loneliness, and restores faith in local government.

Who Benefits from Public Green Space?The High Line in New York City shows that the answer can be the wealthy, who flock to live nearby, driving up property values and driving out long-term, low-income residents

Why Public Places are the Key to Transforming our CommunitiesWhile there may not be a magic bullet to solve our communities' complex social, economic and environmental challenges, there is promising potential in a seemingly unexpected spot: public places. By taking a people-centric approach to creating and revitalizing our public places - neighborhood parks, community markets and downtown squares- we have the potential to truly transform the hearts of our local communities.

Public Arts

How the arts are helping to jumpstart Silverton’s economy - Cincinnati Business CourierSilverton Village Manager Tom Carroll was challenged when he started his role more than five years ago. Like many World War II-built, inner-ring suburbs, Silverton’s population had experienced decades of decline, a corresponding dip in its tax base, aging housing stock and increased poverty. It was taking a toll on civic pride.

Why art and culture contribute more to an economy than growth and jobsSouth Africa is increasingly beginning to focus on the potential role cultural and creative industries can play in job creation and economic growth.

New Research Shows How Arts and Culture Improve Health, Safety and Well-being - School of Social Policy & PracticeA New Study Shows How Arts and Culture Improve Health, Safety and Well-being in New York City’s Less Prosperous Neighborhoods Low- and moderate-income residents in New York City neighborhoods with many cultural resources are healthier, better educated, and safer overall … Continued

Community Gardens

Five Eco-Friendly Benefits Of Community GardensCommunity gardens are flourishing across the U.S. & helping people eat healthier, connect with nature and lower their carbon footprints.

These Lawns Are Being Transformed Into Edible FarmsThe popular Fleet Farming program that converts under-used yards could be coming to a garden near you soon.

Modern Gardener | Growing in a Community Garden | Episode 65A community garden is more than a beautiful green space in an urban area. See why!

Dangerous by Design

U.S. Pedestrian Deaths Soar In 'Total Failure' As States Prioritize Vehicle Speed, Traffic FlowFlorida topped most-deadly rankings of states and metro areas in the new "Dangerous By Design" report.

Americans Shouldn’t Have to Drive, but the Law Insists on ItThe automobile took over because the legal system helped squeeze out the alternatives.

Complete street design that works – a look at Strasbourg, France — URBAN FIELD

Car-Free City and Quality of Life

How '15-minute cities' will change the way we socialiseA new urban planning model will change the French capital – and could provide a template for how to create stronger local communities and make residents happier.

Urban noise pollution is worst in poor and minority neighborhoods and segregated citiesNew research shows that noise pollution in US cities is concentrated in poor and minority communities. Beyond regulating airplane noise, the US has done relatively little to curb noise pollution.

Why cities like San Francisco and New York City are banning cars from certain streetsAmerican cities are creating car-free zones to prioritize other modes of transit.

Smart Growth

Peak Oil Is Already HereA pandemic crash and breakthrough electric cars signal the end of the Oil Age

The curse of urban sprawl: how cities grow, and why this has to changeThe total area covered by the world’s cities is set to triple in the next 40 years – eating up farmland and threatening the planet’s sustainability. Ahead of the latest Urban Age conference, Mark Swilling says it is time to stop the sprawl

Why smart growth cities are safer, healthier, and wealthierDeveloping countries are projected to gain 2.2 billion new urban residents between now and 2050.…

Sustainable Development and Sustainable Living

Five Trends Influencing the Future of Our CitiesUrban plans balance climate change solutions and the well-being of residents.

What is Sustainable Development and Why Does it Matter?In September 2015, the United Nations achieved international agreement for its 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. The agenda identifies 17 Goals and...

Opinion: Sustainable cities need more than parks, cafes and a riverwalkGentrification is not the only path for improving urban neighborhoods. A cleanup in Brooklyn and Queens offers another, more inclusive model that scholars have dubbed 'just green enough.'

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