Vision
The residents, businesses, and public institutions
of Hanover, NH affirm that in order to sustain our collective well-being, all
must work to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their needs. With global climate change,
constraints on non-renewable natural resources available to meet current needs,
and degradation of natural systems, communities around the globe, in the United
States, and in New Hampshire must seek to ensure social, economic and
environmental resilience in the face of an uncertain future.
Goals to Achieve Vision
To accomplish this vision,
Hanover seeks to achieve the following by 2026:
1. Net-zero energy consumption (we produce as much as we consume);
2. Net-zero emissions (we are able to absorb all the we produce);
3. Zero waste (we are able to use all the waste that we generate);
4. Balanced, healthy natural systems (we are maintaining the present diversity of plant and animal species in our eco-systems);
5. A vibrant and efficient economic and social structure (we are all enjoying access to sufficient food, shelter, education and healthcare).
1. Net-zero energy consumption (we produce as much as we consume);
2. Net-zero emissions (we are able to absorb all the we produce);
3. Zero waste (we are able to use all the waste that we generate);
4. Balanced, healthy natural systems (we are maintaining the present diversity of plant and animal species in our eco-systems);
5. A vibrant and efficient economic and social structure (we are all enjoying access to sufficient food, shelter, education and healthcare).
Strategies to Achieve Goals
The residents, businesses, and institutions of Hanover
will collaborate and apply a systemic, long-term approach that communicates the
interdependence of our community as they
1. replace the use of non-renewable resources with renewable and locally generated resources.
2. replace the use of non-reusable, non-biodegradable materials with re-usable and recyclable materials.
3. cease damaging natural systems while restoring those that are damaged.
4. build the capacity to meet the needs of current and future generations.
To oversee the implementation of this systemic process, the Sustainable Hanover Committee will convene an annual gathering to review the community’s progress. These meetings will provide residents, businesses and institutions opportunities to share results and seek support as they strive to achieve the community’s goals by 2026.
1. replace the use of non-renewable resources with renewable and locally generated resources.
2. replace the use of non-reusable, non-biodegradable materials with re-usable and recyclable materials.
3. cease damaging natural systems while restoring those that are damaged.
4. build the capacity to meet the needs of current and future generations.
To oversee the implementation of this systemic process, the Sustainable Hanover Committee will convene an annual gathering to review the community’s progress. These meetings will provide residents, businesses and institutions opportunities to share results and seek support as they strive to achieve the community’s goals by 2026.
Policies
Summary Statement
As a community, The Town of Hanover has been taking actions based on the principle that curbing energy use saves money for tax-payers over time. An overlay to that is an understanding that towns must take action to curb the potential impacts of climate change, of unexpected economic shocks, and of peak oil. To that end, the Sustainable Hanover Committee has been working with the community to develop a vision for where Hanover needs to be in the context of a range of sustainability metrics.
To support this work, the following has occurred since 2005:
1. Voters have approved budgets and bond issues that support a range of infrastructure upgrades throughout the town. To see these policies in action, visit the Town of Hanover page of this site;
2. The Town Manager & the Director of Public Works attended a one-week training in The Natural Step framework for ensuring a sustainable future (June 2008);
3. A 10 member Steering Committee as well as 75 additional residents were also trained in The Natural Step framework (Fall 2008 - Feb 2009);
4. The Select Board approved the creation of The Sustainable Hanover Committee to oversea the community's progress;
5. The Committee has organized a range of events to further understanding about issues at hand;
6. The Committee has created this web page to help provide easier access to information about strategies for taking action and for understanding the issues at hand;
7. One Committee member has received a grant from the Sustainability Institute to develop a Policy and Planning tool for communities to use. Hanover will serve as the sample community for the prototype of the project.
The goal is for the Policy and Planning tool to support the community as it strives to achieve the vision and goals stated above.
To support this work, the following has occurred since 2005:
1. Voters have approved budgets and bond issues that support a range of infrastructure upgrades throughout the town. To see these policies in action, visit the Town of Hanover page of this site;
2. The Town Manager & the Director of Public Works attended a one-week training in The Natural Step framework for ensuring a sustainable future (June 2008);
3. A 10 member Steering Committee as well as 75 additional residents were also trained in The Natural Step framework (Fall 2008 - Feb 2009);
4. The Select Board approved the creation of The Sustainable Hanover Committee to oversea the community's progress;
5. The Committee has organized a range of events to further understanding about issues at hand;
6. The Committee has created this web page to help provide easier access to information about strategies for taking action and for understanding the issues at hand;
7. One Committee member has received a grant from the Sustainability Institute to develop a Policy and Planning tool for communities to use. Hanover will serve as the sample community for the prototype of the project.
The goal is for the Policy and Planning tool to support the community as it strives to achieve the vision and goals stated above.
Resources
Models for Action
Investigate our other communities page on this site.
Sustainable Communities Online: Promoting what different communities are doing. In particular, consider the Indicators section: How do communities measure success? What are the metrics for success?
Investigate our other communities page on this site.
Sustainable Communities Online: Promoting what different communities are doing. In particular, consider the Indicators section: How do communities measure success? What are the metrics for success?
