Sustainability Indicators

SP is moving indicators on two fronts. On the regional level, SP has received a grant from the Pittsburgh Foundation to produce the 2002 Regional Sustainability Goals and Indicators Report.  This is a project to produce the first annual report presenting our region's performance across indicators of environment, economy, and equity.  The framework of goals and indicators presented in the report will be used as a catalyst for education, advocacy, and assessment of our region's progress toward a sustainable future.  

SP has also submitted a briefing to Jim Roddey on use of indicators in county government drawing examples from King County.

At the local level, with support of the Heinz Endowments, a how-to guide on community indicator projects has been published.   This guidance manual is based on a combination of best practices as experienced in the Friendship neighborhood in Pittsburgh, which recently implemented a local indicators project.  It also draws on national case studies as well.  

A brief on "Indicators of Sustainable Development", has been prepared for SP by Alan AtKisson. 

Additionally, SP sponsored a study by Richard Florida, "Regional Environmental Performance and Sustainability:  A Review and Assessment of Indicator Projects".  This report identified more than 150 indicator projects across the United States, 35 of which were notable projects in large regions.

Picking up Where We Left Off, The Goals and Indicators Project: Sustainable Pittsburgh completed the Goals and Indicators Project, a process of engaging 250 local leaders to deliberate about our region's future and principles for sustainability. This project identified goals, strategies, indicators, and hundreds of excellent examples of initiatives that demonstrate where economy, environment, and equity meet. The Goals and Indicators Project succeeded in bringing people together to focus on things like cleaner and healthier places to live and work, conservation of our natural resources and citizen participation. We are now working to take this process even further and build an action agenda for community decision-making and long-term planning. The first step in this process is the creation of Affiliate Network Topic Teams.

By advancing indicators at the neighborhood and municipal level, as well as through the regional report, SP aspires to advance the use of sustainability indicators as a key tool for community development throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.