DISCOVERing Our Region
The Goal
DISCOVER has aimed to create a shared, inclusive framework for measuring progress, coordinating communications, and driving interventions toward regional sustainability outcomes and policies.
The DISCOVER network was created to align respective work among leaders, organizations, and communities in southwestern Pennsylvania, and use data informed decision-making to move the dial on environmental degradation, racial and economic inequities, and making our region a healthier and more sustainable place for all.
As a measurement project and as a network of organizations, DISCOVER’s goal has been to supply the engagement and structure to define regional success and make sure that what gets measured, actually gets managed.
How it Works
Using the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals as a framework, residents of southwestern Pennsylvania convened across sectors over multiple years to craft region-specific sustainability targets – addressing topics including poverty, water quality, health, and community.
From there, the groups have worked together to identify indicators and available data sets to track progress toward these goals. Through deliberative process and collaborative discussion, participants have also aimed to develop new narratives for our region, helping us better understand perspectives and to shape a story for Pittsburgh that can be shared by all.
Working Groups
To do this work, four working groups were established: Equity, Environment, Health and Infrastructure. Members constituted a broad cross-section of representatives from organizations and community groups working in these spaces. Each working group focused on a subset of related United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Equity and Environment working groups were created first, followed by the Health and Infrastructure. As such, more progress has been made with Equity and Environment to date
Equity
Focus Areas:
- No Poverty
- Quality Education
- Gender Equality
- Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Reduced Inequality
Environment
Focus Areas:
- Affordable and Clean Energy
- Responsible Consumption and Production
- Climate Action
- Life Below Water
- Life on Land
Health
Focus Areas:
- Zero Hunger
- Good Health and Well-Being
- Clean Water and Sanitation
Infrastructure
Focus Areas:
- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- Partnerships for the Goals
Who’s Involved
Under the leadership of a Steering Committee, with Sustainable Pittsburgh facilitating, more than 40 organizations from across southwestern Pennsylvania are engaged on this project. The Pittsburgh Foundation provided 2022-2023 funding support.
Steering Committee:
The reach of DISCOVER expands through numerous channels. Each of the organizations on the steering committee is connected to, or leads, several networks across the region. In turn, the organizations linked to those networks have their own web of connections, thus amplifying and connecting information and resources related to regional sustainability. Examples of some of the more formalized networks include the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership, Equitable & Just Greater Pittsburgh, and District PGH.
The Backstory
What does it take to create a more sustainable region?
The social and environmental challenges that southwestern Pennsylvania face are widely recognized, including uneven opportunity and health outcomes across race and gender, poor air quality, and the need for an inclusive transition to clean energy.
But the region’s many nonprofits, municipalities, and businesses haven’t always compared notes on how best to promote a healthy and resilient region where everyone can thrive.
We need shared vision, goals, and metrics to drive coordinated action and achieve true impact.
Beginning in 2020, the DISCOVER (Defining Intersectional Sustainability to Collaboratively Optimize for a Vibrant and Equitable Region) network has worked toward just that.
