Sustainable Tarpon Springs - Defining Our Identity

I’ve been asking myself how long I will write a weekly blog on sustainability, and so far, I don’t even feel remotely close to exhausting the variety of topics tied to this subject.  Self-sufficient living is another closely related topic, and as long as there is not a formal infrastructure for sustainability in place, self-sufficiency - such as conserving, gardening, creating clean energy - will have to fill the gap until the Tarpon Springs makes a commitment to be sustainable.

When I was looking for a few definitions of ‘sustainability’, the EPA came up at the top of my search with their definition (and hopefully someday, the EPA will uphold their own standard):

“Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment.  Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.  Sustainability is important to making sure that we have and will continue to have, the water, materials, and resources to protect human health and our environment.”

I searched the online dictionary as well and found:  Environmental Science.  The quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance.

So, even though Tarpon Springs identity is the ‘Sponge Capital of the World’, and we boast wonderful, colorful, diverse cultural expressions here - there is really no conflict for us to have a sustainable identity as well!  The point of sustainability is for this generation to continue in good health and wholeness without compromising the same quality of life for future generations.

To truly be sustainable (and not simply ‘greenwashing’ through minuscule, unconnected tokens of environmental concern), it behooves any city - large or small - to initiate an action plan.  The City of Santa Monica was far ahead of the curve, establishing a Task Force on the Environment as long ago as 1992.  

By 2001, this Task Force evolved into a Sustainability Working Group with representatives from many community stakeholders: elected and appointed officials, City Staff, and representatives of the neighborhood organizations, schools, the business community, and other community groups.  They narrowed their focus into three primary forms of community capital: natural capital, human and social capital, and financial and built capital.  

As the Sustainability Working Group published their discussions, they welcomed public comments which gradually assisted them in defining and refining their vision for the city.  By 2002, they had changed their vision from the Sustainable City Program to the Sustainable City Plan, which more accurately reflected the long-term commitment and scope of their vision.

Other cities around the country have either followed Santa Monica’s lead or been inspired on their own to do the same thing.  Seattle has had an Office of Sustainability and Environment for over a decade now.  In order to create a healthy urban environment, Seattle has goals for a variety of aspects such as: climate protection, energy, green building, transportation, food, waste and toxics reduction, and water and urban trees.  Our neighbor to the south, the City of Dunedin, actually has a sustainability program in place as well.

Without the guidance of a ‘sustainability plan’ for Tarpon Springs, we lack the conscious intention and vision for thriving into the future.  Obviously, to Yours Truly, this is the highest priority for filtering all growth within our city.   I think we have reach the tipping point where the native Tarponites and newcomers are educated enough to see sustainability as a value worth defining our identity - Sustainable Tarpon Springs!