GCBL Creates County Sustainability Toolkit
Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability and the Museum's GreenCityBlueLake Institute (GCBL) released a comprehensive sustainability toolkit for government officials and citizens earlier this month. It's filled with practical recommendations, model policies and connections to local experts. The toolkit covers nine major issues: air quality, energy, food, green building and historic preservation, land use and development, solid waste, transportation, trees and land management, and watershed management.
Recognizing the key role of local governments, GCBL has worked for many years to create ideas and resources to help communities in Greater Cleveland transition to more sustainable practices.
The project was commissioned by the Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability, with additional funding support from the George Gund Foundation. GCBL staff conducted extensive research and worked with local experts to compile the best thinking about things cities and towns can do to become more sustainable. It will be a valuable resource for the 59 communities in Cuyahoga County.
“This toolkit represents the latest and greatest thinking regarding environmental and sustainability planning for local governments,” said Mike Foley, director of the Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability. “It also recognizes that we have a lot of smart people in Cuyahoga County who are great resources and are willing to be called upon for assistance.”
Each issue section includes a brief summary of the issue and recommendations for what a local government can do in four areas.
-
Leadership and education — informing residents and leading a civic conversation
-
Municipal operations — improving things local governments have under their immediate control
-
Ordinances and policies — enabling and/or requiring residents and businesses to do things
-
Regional collaboration — being engaged in larger initiatives that communities can’t do individually
The toolkit features examples of practices and model policies already adopted by leading communities in Northeast Ohio. Lists of local experts who can supply advice are also provided.
County staff will be reaching out to the cities, villages and townships in the county to introduce the toolkit and explain the benefits of adopting its recommendations. To request a presentation about what your community can do, call the County Department of Sustainability at 216-443-3055 or email [email protected].
The toolkit is posted on the county website for download. Check it out and think about the things your community can do to become more sustainable!
Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s GreenCityBlueLake Institute is a center of thought and practice for the design of green and sustainable cities.
Go back to all announcements