The Urban Infrastructure Initiative (UII), a project of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), has presented the City of Philadelphia with a report to help it achieve its vision of becoming “the greenest city in America.” The UII team came up with a set of solutions — both quick wins and longer term approaches — towards the city’s “Greenworks Philadelphia” objectives for 2015. These targets, set in 2009, are:
Target 1 Lower City Government Energy Consumption by 30 Percent.
Target 2 Reduce Citywide Building Energy Consumption by 10%.
Target 3 Retrofit 15% of Housing Stock with Insulation, Air Sealing, and Cool Roofs.
Target 4 Purchase and Generate 20% of Electricity Used in Philadelphia from Alternative Energy Sources.
Target 5 Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 20%.
Target 6 Improve Air Quality toward Attainment of Federal Standards.
Target 7 Divert 70% of Solid Waste from Landfill.
Target 8 Manage Stormwater to Meet Federal Standards.
Target 9 Provide Walkable Access to Park and Recreation Resources for All Philadelphians.
Target 10 Provide Walkable Access to Affordable, Healthy Food for All Philadelphians.
Target 11 Increase Tree Coverage Toward 30% in All Neighborhoods by 2025.
Target 12 Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled by 10%.
Target 13 Increase the State of Good Repair in Resilient Infrastructure.
Target 14 Increase the Size of the Regional Clean Economy by 25%.
Target 15 Philadelphians Unite to Build a Sustainable Future.
“Greenworks” was published in the spring of 2009. It considered sustainability through five lenses: energy, environment, equity, economy and engagement. Since then the city has also adopted “a new comprehensive plan and a new modernized zoning code which incorporates a number of instruments to advance sustainability in planning decision-making.”
WBCSD_UII_PHILADELPHIA_-_FINAL report is here (5.8 MB, 48 pp.). For a video of the Philadelphia launch, go here.
The UII brings together 14 large companies to help urban authorities develop “realistic, practical and cost-effective sustainability action plans” and to that end is partnering with cities around the world aiming to explore solutions in a variety of geographic and cultural contexts.
E.D.
20 January 2014