From the diverse Phillips neighborhood in Minneapolis to the famously chilly northern Minnesota town of Embarrass, cities, towns and counties throughout the state are recognizing that their environmental, economic and social concerns are fundamentally interdependent. They are increasingly aware that commerce and all other forms of human activity depend on healthy natural systems and renewable natural resources, that to degrade the environment is to diminish the true source of wealth.
Whether it's fostering local businesses that add value to renewable resources, citizen-driven planning that shapes a community's future, or environmental projects that enhance a community's livability and economic attractiveness, this report is dedicated to improving the ability of Minnesota’s communities to manage change. A measure of the document’s success will be the number of communities that begin using a model of progress that is restorative and sustainable.
The Minnesota Round Table on Sustainable Development was a diverse group of 30 business, environmental and community leaders appointed by Governor Arne H. Carlson to consider how Minnesotans can safeguard their long-term environmental, economic and social well-being.