These principles were developed in Melbourne,
Australia, in 2002, during an international Charette, sponsored by the United
Nations Environment Programme and the International Council for Local
Environmental Initiatives. The Melbourne Principles consist on ten short
statements on how cities can become more sustainable.
The Principles are:
1. Provide a long-term vision for cities based
on: sustainability; intergenerational, social, economic and political equity;
and their individuality;
2. Achieve long-term economic and social
security;
3. Recognise the intrinsic value of
biodiversity and natural ecosystems, and protect and restore them;
4. Enable communities to minimise their
ecological footprint;
5. Build on the characteristics of ecosystems
in the development and nurturing of healthy and sustainable cities;
6. Recognise and build on the distinctive
characteristics of cities, including their human and cultural values, history
and natural systems,
7. Empower people and foster participation;
8. Expand and enable cooperative networks to
work towards a common, sustainable future;
9. Promote sustainable production and
consumption, through appropriate use of environmentally sound technologies and
effective demand management;
10. Enable continual improvement, based on
accountability, transparency and good governance.
