Localising the SDGs: Auroville’s Sustainable practices towards eco-township development

As the global community confronts the escalating challenges of climate change, environmental degradation and unsustainable resource consumption, there is a growing need for localised models that advance global sustainability goals. The study examines the ecological sustainability practices of stakeholder organizations at Auroville, an intentional township in Tamil Nadu, India, known for its ecological and spiritual vision. The study employed a sample of 18 organisations based on their contributions to environmental sustainability. Using the Pearson correlation method, the findings reveal how locally driven practices such as organic farming, renewable energy use, waste recycling, and e-mobility contribute to the development of Auroville as an eco-township and align with relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study examines how institutional structures and personal agency combine to produce sustainable outcomes using Giddens' Structuration theory. As a result, Auroville serves as a model for place-based sustainability that connects grassroots innovation with the global Sustainable Development Goals agenda, offering insights for the development of eco-townships in the future that are focused on mitigating environmental degradation.