Creating a Sustainable Long Island: It’s In Your Hands! BY AMY HAGEDORN AND SARAH LANSDALE

Long Islanders are an incredibly diverse group of people. We come from virtually every ethnic and religious background, every political affiliation, every line of work…truth be told, there is no “typical” Long Islander.

But that doesn’t mean we don’t share many common dreams and hopes for our future.

Every Long Islander cares about protecting our air and water, our diminishing open spaces, our magnificent oceans. Every Long Islander wants the opportunity to afford a home, to find a living wage job, to have access to healthcare. Every Long Islander believes that the voice of each citizen deserves to be heard and that each person, regardless of race or economic status or any of the other things that artificially divide us, should have a say when it comes to the future of their community. In other words, every Long Islander hopes for a vibrant economy, a healthy environment and a socially equitable region for all who live here, now and in future generations.

Those three “E’s—economy, environment, and equity—are the pillars of a movement known as “Sustainable Development,” defined in a 1987 United Nations report as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Many have heard the phrase “sustainable development” or “sustainability” but wouldn’t be quite sure how to explain what it means.

People often think of sustainability in colorful terms—the color green, to be exact. “Going green” is all the rage, and that’s a great thing. People all over Long Island and throughout the world are recognizing the impacts that their actions have on the planet, and they’re taking steps to “lighten” their footprint on our precious planet and decrease global warming.

Caring for the environment is unquestionably a key piece of the sustainable development equation. But the concept goes further, recognizing that the health and well-being of our planet and its people depend upon realizing the interconnectedness of a strong economy, environmental health, and social equity. A simple way to think of it is this: A healthy environment is essential to our survival, but without a thriving economy that provides food, housing, employment, and other essentials for all (there’s the equity piece), who will be around to take a deep breath of crisp, fresh air or drink down a cool, clean glass of water?

Though you may not have realized it, there’s a good chance you’re already a member of the growing sustainable development movement, especially when it comes to doing your part to protect the environment. Hopefully, you’ve grown accustomed to recycling your newspapers, glass, and plastic wares (most Long Island towns have made that pretty easy to do). Perhaps you’ve gone a step further and made the switch to compact fluorescent bulbs and/or energy-efficient appliances. Maybe you buy more organic produce or locally grown foods. Lots of your Island neighbors are checking into alternative energy options such as solar panels (visit www.lishines.org for great information on how to find a contractor, take advantage of solar rebates, and other helpful information). Next time you’re car shopping, why not check into hybrid vehicles? (Both of us drive a hybrid car—the Prius—and love it!)

Those are just a few of the changes you can make to create a healthier environment for yourselves, your children and generations to come. You’ll find many more suggestions in the rest of this section, which debuts this month and will continue in every issue of Networking®. Each month, you’ll get advice on how you can take concrete steps now, with stories on everything from alternative energy to toxin-free household cleaners and much, much more.

So, what can you do to make sure you are addressing all of the three pillars in the sustainable development triad, not just the environment? Following are just a few tips when it comes to the economy and equity aspects of sustainability.

To foster economic revitalization:

•Shop at locally owned stores and dine at locally owned restaurants, especially those in your community or nearby communities. Not only does that promote a vibrant downtown economy, but you’ll use less gas (an economic and environmental benefit) and secure the jobs of area residents (see how the equity piece ties in?)

•Buy locally grown produce and wine. (Less trucking from far-away places equals less pollution, and buying local contributes to the local economy and local job growth).

•Join a community supported agriculture group.

•Check into socially responsible investing (one good source: www.socialinvest.org).

To contribute to creating an equitable world:

•Play an active role in the life of your town—and ensure that all members of your community are encouraged to participate in community activities and civic groups.

•Actively seek out opinions from people who have different experiences or are from different socio-economic or cultural groups.

•Teach English as a second language.

•Purchase a home in a community that is diverse.

•Volunteer for one of Long Island’s food pantries or a homeless shelter.

•Contact a group that works toward social justice for all. (One stellar organization is ERASE Racism; contact them at www.eraseracismny.org, 516-921-4863, and ask about becoming a Partner for Racial Equity.)

There is so much to do to make our region and our world truly sustainable. The good news is, there is so much YOU can do to contribute to the transformation that is needed. One great place to start: visit our website, www.sustainableli.org, and download our Sustainable Resources Directory, which contains contact information on everything from solar contractors to organic lawn and cleaning products.

Thank you for caring enough to be part of this exciting movement. And thank you to Christine Conniff Sheahan and the entire staff at Networking® for launching this new section and sharing the information needed to create a sustainable Long Island!

Amy Hagedorn, president of the board, and Sarah Lansdale, executive director, head up the team at Sustainable Long Island (www.sustainableli.org), a non-profit organization that focuses on facilitating real change in our region by promoting the concepts and practices of sustainable development. Sustainable Long Island specializes in a community-based planning process in which residents, municipal leaders, businesspeople and all interested stakeholders come together to plan and implement sustainable development initiatives in their communities.

© 2007 NETWORKING® MAGAZINE 2020 GUIDE TO GOING GREEN