Within a single community, there may be dozens of activities underway that can contribute to sustainability. IISD has developed an inventory tool to help a community document historical and current initiatives being carried out by its citizens. Through the inventory process, the community should gain a better appreciation of the collective knowledge and expertise it has to draw upon—as well as an understanding of how past activities have influenced the types of programs and solutions that the community might view as possible and desirable in the future.

The Community Sustainable Development Action and Knowledge Inventory focuses on community-led initiatives. It is intended to serve as a complementary exercise to the Green Municipal Funds Community Profile established by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The FCM Community Profile focuses on programs of the local municipal government.