City releases 3rd annual report on sustainability
Tucson Green Times – July 2009
Tucson, Ariz. – The City’s Office of Conservation and Sustainable Development (OCSD) released the City’s 3rd Annual Sustainability Report on June 17.
The groundwork of the last several years is beginning to show in multiple projects and programs across the valley and across the full spectrum of City government operations.
The Sustainability Report showcases many of the things the City is doing to protect our local environment and the integrity of our community.
As the 3rd Annual Report demonstrates, the City of Tucson has had a very productive year promoting sustainability both in City operations and in the community. The OCSD staff also has been working hard to bring resources and tools to residents, businesses, and organizations to help them become more sustainable in their activities, work, and home lives.
The report highlights many, but by no means all, of the City initiatives related to green building, energy and climate change, transportation alternatives, water resources, waste reduction and recycling, urban nature, and environmental health.
One key OCSD initiative was the launching of a comprehensive online sustainability resource in 2008 (www.tucsonaz.gov/ocsd). This website is intended to be an evolving source of information on City programs and activities that promote sustainability, highlights of community partners and local sustainability projects to inspire similar action by others, and tools and resources for greening businesses.
OCSD also partnered with Pima County and the Inner Connection to launch The Green Pueblo Map, a map of all the assets that make our region sustainable. Community members are invited to “make your mark” on the map by nominating sites that showcase the best of the region’s cultural, social and environmentally sustainable features at www.greenpueblomap.org.
A particularly important event occurred in 2009, when OCSD staff worked with Pima County and the University of Arizona to organize the first-ever Community Conversation on Climate Action for the Tucson region. Tucson was selected to be one of 10 Spotlight Conversations across the nation by ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability in an effort to highlight local action on climate change.
This event, held on Earth Day, April 22, at the University of Arizona, drew more than 100 community members to talk about how climate change affects important community aspects such as water supply, affordable housing, mobility, health and food security, and green jobs. The information gathered at this event will be used to influence climate change policies in the General Plan when it is revised in 2010.
Powerpoint presentations and information on the event can be found online at www.tucsonaz.gov/ocsd/climateaction
More information about these and other projects and programs highlighted in the Report – such as Tucson’s SustainLane Ranking, U. S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, the Climate Change Citizens Advisory Committee, Departmental programs, various awards won by our City government, Green projects in building, renewable energy, transportation and resource conservation as well as new codes and ordinances focused on sustainability – are available on the OCSD sustainability website at www.tucsonaz.gov/ocsd.
