Sustainable Atlanta

Catalyst for a Green and Inclusive Economy

A diverse group of professionals who strive to understand the forces in play in the various sectors of Metropolitan Atlanta and to align and harness those forces in a manner that helps build a prosperous, environmentally responsible and socially equitable future for all stakeholders.

Sustainability leaders across the business, academic, and NGO sectors of Metro-Atlanta

• Scott Wicker (Chair), Chief Sustainability Officer, UPS

• Barry Berlin (Treasurer), Managing Director, Atlantic Trust and Advisor, Kendeda Fund

• Ciannat Howett, Director of Sustainability, Emory University

• Charles Whatley, Director Jobs & Economic Growth, DeKalb County Department of Economic Development

• Dana Hartline, Vice President Corporate, Edelman

• Na'Taki Osborne Jelks, Manager Education and Advocacy Programs, National Wildlife Federation SE.

•Katie Kirkpatrick, Vice President Environmental Affairs, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

•Howard Connell, Global Sustainability Leader, Kimberly-Clark Professional

How We Got Here

Mayor Shirley Franklin engaged a group of environmental, government and economic experts to research best practices relating to sustainability in several peer cities. Among their recommendations:

• Establish an internal Office of Sustainability
• Build a culture of sustainability in City Hall
• Form an external nonprofit to convene the private/NGO sectors and community

The result was creation of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Sustainable Atlanta.

Successes '08-'12

• Created Water Task Force, Recycling & Materials Management Workgroup, and Energy Task Force

• Published the award-winning 2008 – 2009 Atlanta Sustainability Report

• Led drafting of the Atlanta Sustainable Building Ordinance

• Launched Atlanta Mentorship Program for Sustainability

• Developed the Green & Healthy Homes pilot program for Center for Working Families

• Secured 501 (c)(3) nonprofit status to ensure financial sustainability

• Advised Mayor Reed on Atlanta sustainability landscape in Atlanta & responded to his request to help make Atlanta a top 10 sustainable city

• Provided input & counsel on City of Atlanta’s new sustainability plan

• Launched Measuring the Movement, which evolved into participation in STAR Community Index

• Forged meaningful relationships with 54 partner organizations (NGOs, academia)

• EnvisionATL - Sold out & facilitated discussions between 200 city sustainability change agents.

WHAT WE DO

WHY WE DO IT

Our Mission

1. Completing the triad of Sustainability - Environmental Health

Atlanta's Next Growth Opportunity

2.

• Leveraging the efforts and resources of the public and private sectors,
• Building diverse coalitions across traditional political, cultural and income divides.

3. External resource for sustainability policy and initiatives throughout the metro-Atlanta, unabated by shifts in political will.

Vision For A Sustainable Metro-Atlanta

• The air is clean
• Waste is reduced
• We use less water than is available
• All buildings are high-performance structures
• Greenspace is abundant
• Green industries and businesses thrive
• Clean energy technologies prevail
• Solutions are equitable and inclusive
• Transportation alternatives are the norm
• Communities and urban centers are walkable
• Quality of life is ensured for future generations

WHAT WE ARE DOING

Detailed Workscope 2012

1. Sustainability Planning

• Gap Analysis PtC vs Plan 2040
• Convener PtC climate action plan

2. Sustainability Metrics

• Facilitate STAR index
• Improve Information Delivery

3. High Performance Buildings

• Public/private compliance assistance
• Better Buildings Challenge
• Convener for program/policy improvement

4. Pilot and Demonstration Projects

• Greenprints Midtown Ecodistricts
• Trinity Urban Farm
• Clean Cities Atlanta

5. Stakeholder Convening & Engaging

• EnvisionATL 2012
• Sustainability Ambassador Program

How We Do It

MOVING FORWARD: VALUE & NICHE

2. Info Hub/Engagement Launch Pad

2. CONNECT

1. CONVENE

4.

3.

1. Planning

• PtC
• Assisting Stakeholders

2. Metrics

• STAR development
• Portal

3. Convening

• EnvisionATL2012
• Sustainability Ambassadors Program

4. Demonstrating

• Midtown Greenprints EcoDistrict
• Trinity Avenue Farm

5. Expanding Board

• Howard Connell, Kimberly-Clark
• Katie Kirkpatric - MACOC

WHO WE ARE

The Team

SA is uniquely positioned to provide value as a:

Suzanne Burnes, Executive Director

Scott Briskey, Communications

Board of Directors

Synkai Harrison,Operations

Our History:

Nancy Geisler,

Stakeholder Engagement

1. Umbrella Organization

3. Neutral Convener