How communities organize themselves for sustainability and how they organize their sustainability issues are both important parts of how sustainable communities develop. Communities tend to organize their functional structures and activities around sustainability issues. Specifically, they organize to address the economic, social, and environmental issues that are most pressing or most highly valued in their community. Many times they also address governance and management issues, such as fairness in their community, fairness in their sustainabilty process, and basic management logistics for the process. Integrating these issues is key, since communities are trying to address their problems in a more holistic and integrated fashion.
Many communities also organize their activities around basic community elements.
These elements refer to the five functional and physical components that are the basis for our modern communities. Major community elements include the built environment, transportation, energy, water and wastes, and flora and fauna. Issues addressed in this area include building materials, safe and affordable housing, and urban design. Transportation includes issues related to mobility and access to transportation. Water and waste includes issues such as drinking water, waste water, solid waste, and hazardous waste management.