CitiesGoGreen - December 2008 - (Page 25)

Local Government in Action — PROFILE — PhiladelPhia After years of clean-up, Philadelphia has ambitious but practical plans for the future, with water in a starring role. by Jennifer Karchmer Monthly Urban Sustainability Forums, free and open to the public, raise awareness and develop strategies to address important issues. Topics have included urban spaces, parking, faith-based communities and sustainability, sustainable architecture and young professionals making an impact on the city’s sustainability movement. There’s more than talk. Recycling got easier this summer when the city made the final expansion of the Single Stream recycling program, allowing residents to place paper, plastic, metals, glass and cardboard all in one bin. The Coalition reports that if every Philadelphia household recycled at least one daily newspaper and two 16-oz. beverage containers each day, the city Working to be the Next Great City Philly Facts: The largest city in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia is in the southeastern part of the state on the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. Mayor: Michael Nutter Population: 1.5 million (2000 census) Density: 11,233.6 people per square mile (2000 census) Size: The City/County of Philadelphia is 135 square miles. The smallest county in the region geographically, it is the largest in population. Points of Interest: Home of the Philadelphia Phillies, 2008 World Series Champions. Also Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed, the Liberty Bell, national symbol of independence, and the University of Pennsylvania. W ill Philadelphia, Pennsylvania become America’s “Next Great City?” That’s the goal. The Next Great City concept is the creation of a coalition of more than 100 community and civic groups, who offered the blueprint to new mayor Michael Nutter. As a step toward making Philadelphia the “greenest city in the nation,” Nutter appointed Mark Alan Hughes as Director of Sustainability. According to Hughes’ statement in a press release, “Local governments are on the front lines when it comes to dealing with climate change and environmental issues. Our goal, here in Philadelphia, is to move the sustainability agenda further and faster than in any city in the United States.” The 21 members of the new Sustainability Advisory Board represent government, nonprofits and the private sector. In announcing its creation to assist the Office of Sustainability, Hughes said, “Rising energy prices and accelerating climate change present opportunities for smart cities that embrace rather than deny the future.” Philadelphia is clearly one such city. Part of ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection campaign since 1999, and with the help of Kim Lundgren, Northeast Director for ICLEI, the City has conducted and recently updated a baseline emissions inventory, adopted an emissions reduction target and developed a local climate action plan. “Our goal, here in Philadelphia, is to move the sustainability agenda further and faster than in any city in the United States.” —Mark Alan Hughes Photo courtesy the Philadelphia Horticultural Society December 2008 25 http://www.nextgreatcity.com/about http://citiesgogreen.com/issues/december-2008/features/philadelphia-working-to-be-the-next-great-city http://www.planphilly.com/files/sub.pdf http://www.planphilly.com/files/sub.pdf http://citiesgogreen.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of CitiesGoGreen - December 2008

Citites Go Green Contents In Motion We’re Taking Steps 10,000 Rain Gardens in Kansas City Chicago Center for Green Technology Connecticut’s ‘One Thing’ Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Management Philadelphia The Economics of What Matters New Context: New Possibility

CitiesGoGreen - December 2008

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