News Release: Mayor Vincent C. Gray and Environment and Planning Officials Announce Launch of Sustainability Strategy

Mayor Vincent C. Gray today announced that the city is undertaking an ambitious initiative to create a comprehensive Sustainability Strategy for the District.

The plan, led by the D.C. Office of Planning (OP) in partnership with the District Department of the Environment (DDOE), will set the framework for the District’s quest to become the most sustainable city in the country. The District is already leading the country in sustainability in many areas, including first in purchasing green renewable power, first in LEED-certified buildings, and first in bike-sharing participation. The city is looking to boost achievement in citywide recycling rates, the creation of green jobs for District residents and stormwater management.

“I’m tremendously excited to announce this opportunity to make the District not just One City, but One Sustainable City,” said Mayor Vincent C. Gray. “We hope to show the economic, equitable and environmental benefits of developing a collaborative plan that shows how sustainability can make our city a better place to live, work and play.”

Ambitious goals will be established for energy and climate, water, ecology , waste, food, the built environment and transportation. The District’s sustainability plan will set clear indicators to achieve these goals and tie implementation directly to responsible parties, work plans and budgets with clear timelines.

The initiative will kick off with “Sustainable September,” where the District will invite active collaboration by residents, business owners and others to help develop a vision for sustainability.

“The Sustainability Strategy will be a collaborative project that builds off our city’s environmental leadership, where we will work with our neighbors and partners across the city,” said Christophe A. G. Tulou, Director of the District Department of the Environment.

The initiative will include traditional and new-media outreach tools to engage the public. A website for the project will include a calendar of events, a portal to sign up for regular updates and polling opportunities. A citizen’s guide will assist residents and businesses in a range of sustainability topics within their own neighborhoods, as well as promote discussions among District agencies and the business community.