Policy
Communities & Social Programs
"Green City, Clean Waters""Green City, Clean Waters" is Philadelphia's 25-year plan to protect and enhance the City's watersheds by managing stormwater primarily with innovative green infrastructure.
Brazilian National Solid Waste PolicyIn 2010, Brazil finalized its National Solid Waste Policy, a cross-cutting law that aims to decrease the total volume of waste produced nationally and increase the sustainability of solid waste management from the local level to the national level.
Brownfield and Land RevitalizationEnvironmental policies combined with community development strategies can reduce environmental, public health, and financial risks by encouraging safe reuse of brownfields instead of the conversion of undeveloped land.
Brownfield Area-Wide Planning (BF AWP)This policy approach seeks to maximize brownfield cleanup and revitalization efforts at multiple sites in a local area through community involvement, planning research, technical assistance, and public-private partnerships.
Environmental Job TrainingEnvironmental Workforce job training policies encourage hiring of local residents in the area of environmental management and remediation and response, in partnership with local training service providers.
Green Design and CertificationCommunities across the United States and in other countries are looking for opportunities to decrease energy consumption, this has led to the development of green building standard-setting organizations.
Green Streets and AlleysGreen streets and alleys can help local governments green their transportation network by managing stormwater runoff within transportation rights-of-way.
Morar Carioca: Integrating Informal SettlementsAs in many large cities in the developing world, a large portion of the population of Rio de Janeiro lives in informal settlements or slums, called favelas.
Municipal Recycling Collection ExpansionCurrently, the City of Rio de Janeiro gathers only 1 percent of recyclables through official collection of separated materials, and reaches less than one-third of the City through its efforts.
Organic Materials ManagementU.S. EPA policy on organic materials management makes source reduction and food recovery priorities in order to achieve a wide range of benefits, including renewable energy production.
Participatory Budgeting (PB)PB is a process whereby citizens provide their priorities for civic improvement and have direct influence over the budget allocations of their municipalities, often focused on construction and service budget allocations.
Philadelphia Sustainability Plan—GreenworksIn Mayor Michael Nutter's January 2008 inaugural address, he pledged to make Philadelphia the number one green city in America.
Public Participation Tools for Community EngagementLocal and national authorities in Brazil, the United States, and other countries increasingly recognize that successful projects require meaningful involvement of all affected people, which includes reaching out specifically to minority, low-income, and indigenous populations.
Renewable Energy Development/RE-Powering InitiativeElectricity production will need to increase by nearly 30 percent over the next two decades to meet growing demand. As communities become more concerned about the environmental impacts of fossil fuels, renewable energy technologies will play a greater role in meeting future electricity demand.
Rio "Bicycle Capital City"Increased bicycle infrastructure in urban environments promotes the importance of cycling as a mode of transportation, resulting in improved urban mobility, environmental quality, social inclusion, and economic benefits.
SEPTAinable Transit Sustainability Plan"SEPTAinable The Route to Regional Sustainability " is the sustainability plan for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), which provides public transit for 5 Pennsylvania Counties, including Philadelphia.
Site Cleanup Incentives-Financial PoliciesNumerous financial strategies exist to reduce risk and "level the financial playing field" between undeveloped land and previously used, often contaminated brownfield sites.
Special Districts and Areas of InterestIn communities in the U.S., Brazil, and elsewhere, local governments are searching for ways to create vibrant communities that attract jobs, foster economic development, and are attractive places for people to live, work, and play.
Transparency Policies and Public ReportingTransparency policies and public reporting are considered essential to responsive and participatory governing structures.
Urban and Community Supported Agriculture on Former BrownfieldsThis policy approach promotes urban agriculture as a brownfield and land revitalization approach in under-served, "food desert" areas.
Zero Waste StrategiesA "zero waste" goal recognizes that incremental improvements in resource efficiency may not enable us to reach a sustainable future in the way that a more comprehensive goal of eliminating waste can.
