Superstorm Sandy sent a strong message that a new generation of urban development and infrastructure is desperately needed, and it must be designed with resilience in mind. As cities continue to face climate change impacts while growing in population, they find themselves at the center of resilience and green city solutions, yet political and budgetary obstacles threaten even the best-planned initiatives. In The Guide to Greening Cities, seasoned green city leaders Sadhu Johnston, Steven Nicholas, and Julia Parzen use success stories from across North America to show how to turn a green city agenda into reality.
The Guide to Greening Cities is the first book written from the perspective of municipal leaders with successful, on-the-ground experience working to advance green city goals. Through personal reflections and interviews with leading municipal staff in cities from San Antonio to Minneapolis, the authors share lessons for cities to lead by example in their operations, create programs, implement high-priority initiatives, develop partnerships, measure progress, secure funding, and engage the community. Case studies and chapters highlight strategies for overcoming common challenges such as changes of leadership and fiscal austerity. The book is augmented by a companion website, launching with the publication of the book, which offers video interviews of municipal leaders, additional case studies, and other resources.
Rich in tools, insights, and tricks of the trade, The Guide to Greening Cities helps professionals, policymakers, community leaders, and students understand which approaches have worked and why and demonstrates multidisciplinary solutions for creating healthy, just, and green communities.
Sadhu Aufochs Johnston currently serves as Deputy City Manager for the City of Vancouver, Canada. He co-founded the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) with Julia Parzen and led Chicago’s green initiatives under Mayor Daley as Commissioner of the Department of Environment and in the Mayor’s office as the Chief Environmental Officer.
Steven S. Nicholas is Vice President for US Programs at the Institute for Sustainable Communities in Vermont, former Sustainability Director for the City of Seattle and co-founder of Sustainable Seattle.
Julia Parzen is the Coordinator of the USDN and has led sustainability initiatives in local, state and federal government, including the development of the Chicago Climate Action Plan.
Table of Contents
Preface Foreword by Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia Introduction: The New Urban Imperative Chapter 1. Working within City Government: Lessons from Sadhu Johnston in Chicago and Vancouver Chapter 2. Leading from the Inside Out: Greening City Buildings and Operations -Case in Point: Assessing Climate Risk and Resiliency in Flagstaff -Case In Point: Greening City Fleets in Raleigh Chapter 3. Leading in the Community: Using City Assets, Policy, Partnerships, and Persuasion -Case In Point: Returning to Green City Roots and Loving El Paso -Case In Point: Sewer Overflows and Sustainable Infrastructure in Philadelphia Chapter 4. The Green City Leader -Case-in-Point: Funding Sustainability through Savings in Asheville -Case in Point: Permeable Pavement and the Green Alley Program in Chicago Chapter 5. Getting Down to Business: Budgeting, Financing and Green Economic Development -Case in Point: Growing Green Businesses and Jobs in San Antonio -Case In Point: Financing Affordable Housing along Transit Lines in Denver Chapter 6. Driving Green Progress Using Indicators -Case In Point: Sustainability Performance Management in Minneapolis -Case in Point: Ensuring Sustainability Remains a Priority in New York City Conclusion: From Green to Resilient Cities Endnotes.
