ABSTRACT
The idea of sustainability has permeated planning and policy discussions for many years. Sustainability is a classic example of a fluid concept. There are numerous definitions of the terms ‘sustainability’ and ‘sustainable development’. Canada has been supportive of sustainable development for many years. The 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development was held in Johannesburg, South Africa. On June 29, 1993, President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 12852, creating the President’s Council on Sustainable Development. States and local governments are playing an increasingly important role in planning for sustainable development. The State Legislature formed a twenty-five-member Sustainability Task Force to develop a statewide sustainability plan called the Hawai’i 2050 Sustainability Plan. The 2050 Sustainability Plan was published in 2008; a year after the Task Force issued a report to the Governor and Legislature. The City of Long Beach, California, passed an ordinance establishing an advisory body called the Sustainable City Commission.
