Denver, CO "Greenprint Denver"

Type: Policy
Status: Initiated in 2005
Source File: http://www.greenprintdenver.org/about/index.php
Description:
Sustainability: A Core Value in Denver City Government
In the summer of 2005, Mayor John W. Hickenlooper joined 49 other mayors nationwide in a U.S. Conference of Mayors pledge to improve the environment of their cities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Worldwide, cities have a significant environmental footprint: They cover just two percent of the world's surface, but they accommodate 50 percent of the world's population and consume 75 percent of its resources.
The mayors acknowledged that they could take steps now in their own governmental operations and communities to reduce their impact on worldwide global warming pollution by striving to meet or exceed targets set forth by the United Nation's Kyoto Protocol.
The signatory cities agreed to hold themselves accountable and demonstrate leadership at the local level in seven broad areas: energy, waste reduction, urban design, urban nature, transportation, environmental health and water.
As of October 2007, 691 mayors representing over 67 million Americans have now signed this historic agreement.
The pledge was one of the first actions taken by Mayor Hickenlooper after launching Denver's Sustainable Development Initiative to integrate environmental impact considerations into the city's programs and policies, convene stakeholder groups, catalyze new projects, and communicate the importance of sustainable development in Denver.
With help from business and community partners and dedicated city staff, an action agenda for sustainability was produced. Greenprint Denver is a pragmatic approach to determine city objectives that can be tracked, measured, refined and reported.
Greenprint Denver charts the city's course over the next five years and will position the city as a national leader in a global effort to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.
Mission Statement
The mission of Greenprint Denver is to provide leadership and solutions to ensure a prosperous community where people and nature thrive.
Guiding Principles
* Communicate sustainability as a public value and expand the concept of the city as a steward of public resources.
* Support sustainability as a core business value to improve efficiencies in resource use, reduce environmental impact, and invoke broad cultural changes.
* Incorporate "triple bottom line" analysis, seeking to balance economic, social and environmental considerations into all city policy and program decisions.
* Set clear metrics of success and report on our progress moving forward through annual report cards.
* Pursue activities that support environmental equity and health for all citizens.
* Partner with community organizations, cultural institutions and businesses to achieve broad impact.
* Lead by example in city practice wherever possible.
greenprint goals
A central goal of the Greenprint Denver Action Agenda is to facilitate general communication, public outreach and civic engagement related to sustainability. Goals for the next 1-5 years combine both internal capacity-building and external outreach and education.
2007 Goals
Training and Capacity-Building
* Engage 100 city staff in sustainability training related to specific goals.
* Conduct an annual Green Cities Forum, bringing together sustainability leaders from other cities in the United States to present and meet with city staff, Greenprint Council members and citizens to continue developing and refining Greenprint agenda.
Web Site Development
* Launch and continue development of greenprintdenver.org as a premier resource in the region for information about city sustainability resources and programs.
Outreach
* Identify target audiences and reach out to target groups with program information and resources.
* Identify opportunities for interested citizens and groups to become engaged and contribute to a more sustainable future.
* Build on initial partnership with the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation to engage business in energy efficiency measures. Identify opportunities to engage local businesses to achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Partner With Cultural Institutions
* Build on existing interest in sustainability issues at area museums, gardens and other facilities to conduct public education and engage citizens in specific issues and actions.
2011 Goals
Training and Capacity-Building
* Engage 200 staff in annual sustainability trainings. Identify means to capture employee "best practices" feedback and ideas.
* Continue to convene an annual Green Cities Forum, bringing together sustainability leaders from other cities in the United States to present and meet with city staff and citizens to continue to refine best practices.
Web Site Development
* Continue development of greenprintdenver.org as a premier resource in the region for information about city sustainability resources and programs.
Outreach
* Identify opportunities for interested citizens and groups to become engaged in contributing to a more sustainable future.
* Build on initial partnership with the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation to interest regional businesses in energy efficiency measures. Identify ways to engage businesses in new strategies and to track progress (i.e. membership/awards program).
Partner With Cultural Institutions
* Build on existing interest in sustainability issues at area museums, gardens and other facilities to conduct public education and engage citizens in specific issues and actions.
Category:City-County Governments
Category:Colorado
Category:Denver
Category:Policies
Category:Sustainability Policies