The Philadelphia Sustainability Awards will honor and celebrate our region’s progress towards becoming the most sustainable region in the nation!
What is sustainability?
There are many definitions and metaphors, but the easiest way to think of sustainability is:
The ability to provide for our present needs without damaging the ability of future generations to provide for themselves.
Sustainability means a balance between the economy, environment, and society.
That’s why you hear people talking about leaving a better world for their children – that’s sustainable! When businesses talk about a triple bottom line, one that balances not only the shareholder’s interest, but also the communities’ interest, and the environment’s interest – that’s sustainable!
How is Philadelphia sustainable now?
Remember when National Geographic Traveler called Philadelphia “The Next Great American City?” That was the first time many of us heard that our city was great. But Philadelphia is already one of the most sustainable cities in America. Really!
The latest SustainLane survey ranked Philadelphia 8th in the nation, with particularly high scores in the areas of: transportation (tied for #2 in overall mobility), local food and agriculture (#3), and energy and climate change policy (#5).
From the SustainLane web site:
“Look beyond Philadelphia’s patchwork of abandoned manufacturing sites, and you’ll find a city that’s emerging as a solid model of how cities can reduce environmental impact while maintaining vibrant local neighborhoods and culture.”*
What are some examples of sustainability in Philadelphia?
- The City of Philadelphia was the first municipal government in the world to use car sharing, reducing the number of vehicles on the road and reducing the City’s fuel and maintenance costs
- Philadelphia’s SEPTA has high public transit usage rates among commuters
- Liberty Property Trusts's Comcast Tower is he tallest LEED certified (Core and Shell) building in America
- Philadelphia has one of the largest networks of farmers markets in the nation, which accept food stamps and sell locally-grown food
Since early 2006, Philadelphia has been engaging citizens and officials to take note of our sustainable assets through the Urban Sustainability Forum. This series of monthly panel discussions, led by several of the region’s non-profit leaders, hosts nationally renowned experts and local innovators.
Also, in early 2007 the Next Great City Initiative identified 10 easy, budget-neutral steps to make Philadelphia more livable and more sustainable.
There is still a lot to be done, but the region has some intrinsic qualities, and has already seen a lot of progress!
Why have a Philadelphia Sustainability Awards program?
Take a look at our nominations pages. Chances are, you haven’t heard much about many of these people, organizations, or projects. Despite our great progress, many of those in the region who are doing great things go unrecognized. They don’t have the platform to toot their own horn or share what they’ve learned, and the region runs the risk of losing momentum on our path to a sustainable future.
This is where the Philadelphia Sustainability Awards come in! The Awards celebrate our successes, disseminate the lessons learned, and make sure good ideas become the foundation for our great city and region.
Still have questions? See our terms & definitions page.