Sustainability

Sustainability has many definitions – see the bottom of this page for some of them.

However, a concept that people “can’t quite define” or “can’t quite agree on” doesn’t mean the concept is meaningless. That is part of the fun. We are the ones who have to define what sustainability is.

But let’s start at the beginning, for those who have never heard it before. Sustainability is usually defined as a way of living, of conducting business, and of protecting environments, small (your backyard) to large (the planet Earth) – thinking about how this way of living will affect your children’s future, and their children’s children, and so on.

Today, many in the U.S. worry about the ballooning federal government deficits and about how these deficits represent an immense burden we’re putting on future generations of Americans. In a completely different setting, an HIV-positive pregnant mother agonizes over whether her baby will be born HIV-positive or whether current medical treatments will prevent that from happening.

A central tenet of the American Dream is that our children will lead a better life than we did. From the beginning of the idea of America here in Philadelphia in 1776, life has gotten better, generation after generation. We had hiccups along the way, such as the Civil War and the Great Depression. But overall, life is good and always gets better in these United States.

But what if something is happening out there, something that will change all that? And no, it’s not coming from foreign nations or from outer space. It’s coming from our own actions. What if we’re leaving our children a debt so large they will be slaves to us long after we’re gone? What if we’re leaving them a land so exhausted that only what we today consider diseases will survive?

That is the nightmare scenario. But you don’t have to believe in this scenario to believe in Sustainability. Sustainability is a way of looking at things – at still looking for resources, at still looking for profit; but also looking at ways to do things differently, looking for the common good, looking for beauty, looking for a green planet.

High energy costs. Congested traffic. Fractured communities. Pollution and sprawl. What will the Philadelphia of the future be?

Help us define what Sustainability is for Philadelphia and Philadelphians! Help us make a true, long-lasting, Sustainable Philadelphia.

Why is sustainability important to Philadelphia’s future?

What challenges are impacting Philadelphia’s future? Taxes, crime, ethical government, education – these are all challenges to be faced by the leaders and residents of Philadelphia. At their core, these issues are all about the quality of life in the city - what makes Philadelphia a better place for people and business. These are issues that, if handled properly, will help sustain the future of Philadelphia.

Livable neighborhoods, a good transportation system, smart land use and planning, affordable energy, good air & water quality and the other issues being addressed by the Urban Sustainability Forum are also important parts of the equation to make Philadelphia a better place for people and business - A more livable city.

Much has been done to improve Philadelphia's outlook in the last several years. The key now is to make the most of what has been done and leverage this for the greatest impact. Philadelphia is in competition for economic investment. Philadelphia is in competition for residents. Other cities are focusing on environmental & suistainability issues. Philadelphia needs to add sustainability to the mix.

There are two Philadelphia’s. One Philadelphia is represented by the vibrant, growing center city area and adjacent neighborhoods. This part of Philadelphia has seen steady population growth even while the city, as a whole, loses residents to the suburbs and to other population growth centers in the United States. There are few abandoned brown field sites in center city and jobs, shopping, entertainment, cultural activities and recreation are all accessible by foot or public transportation.

Outside of Center City, the picture is much different. The housing stock is old and inefficient. Vacant lots and abandoned buildings scar neighborhoods struggling to survive. Residents are dependent on under funded public transportation to get to the limited jobs and shopping available to them. Health affects of urban living such as asthma and heat related stress take the greatest toll on the residents of these areas.

It is this other Philadelphia that has the most to gain from a more sustainable Philadelphia. The greatest challenges and opportunities lie in the abandoned industrial areas and neighborhoods outside of center city. The greatest needs lie in these areas and sustainable practices will have the greatest impact in these areas.

The challenge for Philadelphia is to make the most of our unique opportunities. Resources are limited and there are limited funds to invest. Part of this effort has to include finding ways of making the city more efficient and building on existing programs. Leadership and a commitment to certain long-range goals will make a difference. We need a vision and a plan - That is what the USF is working towards.

Definitions of Sustainability on the Web: