Economic Localization
From the “Slow Food Movement,” to farmers markets and “Buy Local” campaigns, more organizations are promoting “economic localization” as a key to sustainable communities. According to Bay Localize:
“Economic localization brings production of goods and services closer to their point of consumption, reducing the need to rely on long supply chains and distant markets. . . Local production strengthens the local economy, creates worthwhile jobs, and increases local self-reliance.
Local production for local consumption also reduces the need to ship materials and products large distances. Reducing transport lowers CO2 and other pollutant emissions and reduces dependence on burning fossil fuels. This is particularly important considering that the transportation sector is the largest emitter of CO2. . .”
Check out Slow Food, Healthy Communities for more information about the Slow Food Movement. For more information about economic localization, check out these Northern California organizations:
San Francisco Bay Area
Bay Localize: Community Self-Reliance, Sustainablitiy, Social Justice, Oakland CA.
San Francisco Post Carbon, CA.
Livability Project, Pacifica CA.
North Coast
Sustainable Petaluma Network, Petaluma CA.
New College of California, Santa Rosa Campus CA.
Coast Economic Localization, Medoncino County CA, please contact Lenora Shepard at localize@mcn.org.Greater Ukiah Localization Project, Ukiah CA.
Willits Economic Localization: An enduring local economy that provides health and security for our community, Willits CA.
Inland/Mountains
Alliance for a Post Petroleum Local Economy, Shasta CA.
Alliance for a Post Petroleum Local Economy, Nevada County CA.
Sacramento Post-Carbon Action Network, SPAN, Sacramento CA.
Central Coast
Sustainable Monterey: Beyond Peak Oil, Monterey CA.
Big Sur Powerdown, CA.
The Relocalization Network: Local Communities, Global Connections, news and information about economic localization, and a listing of partner organizaitons.