According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, sustainable development “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

In sustainable communities, decisions made by the present generation will not reduce the options of future generations. The present generation will pass on a natural, economic, and social environment that will provide a high quality of life.

By strengthening mitigation efforts, a community can become more sustainable and resilient so that it can avoid or reduce the effects of potential disasters in the present and future. Among its mitigation actions should be the enactment and enforcement of strong building codes and sound land use policies.