The Infrastructure and Health working groups began meeting in Fall 2023. As such, the information in the following sections represent early visioning of targets and indicators. These conversations are less complete than for the Equity and Environment working groups, which began the process more than a year earlier.
Use the colored icons below to select a goal to review initial brainstorming for southwestern Pennsylvania’s infrastructure targets. As with all visioning projects, these continue to be a work in progress.
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Regional Targets
- Advocate for better landscaping code and ongoing maintenance referencing sources such as the Shade Tree Commission and the Climate Action Plan.
- Incentivize green infrastructure and native-based design in development.
- Include BIPOC and women-owned businesses for infrastructure projects.
- Plan for clean energy on neighborhood and regional scale.
- Advocate for more human-scale transportation projects and help communities implement.
- Active participation in local, regional, state transportation planning and policy efforts.
- Develop and facilitate sustainable infrastructure.
UNSDG Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
Regional Targets
- Leverage the Build Back Better legislation and the Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative funding to promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, enhance research and upgrade industrial technologies, and support domestic technology development and industrial diversification.
- Promote green building products and construction businesses.
UNSDG Target 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries.
Regional Targets
- Advocate for better landscaping code and ongoing maintenance referencing sources such as the Shade Tree Commission and the Climate Action Plan.
- Provide access to financial services including financial management, regranting, and a revolving loan fund.
- Grantmaking and flexible capital
UNSDG Target 9.3: Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets.
Regional Targets
- Support circular wood economy and urban wood reuse.
- Develop specific programming to teach makers/artists/designers how to use sustainable materials.
UNSDG Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.
Regional Targets
- Encourage development in areas with public transit.
- Incubate clean energy research and industrial technology through below-market space and development support.
- Leverage the Build Back Better legislation and the Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative funding to promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, enhance research and upgrade industrial technologies, and support domestic technology development and industrial diversification.
UNSDG Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.
Regional Targets
- Perform adaptive reuse of old buildings.
- Advocate for vehicle decarbonization that benefits environmental justice/Justice 40 communities first.
UNSDG Target 9.a: Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States.
Regional Targets
- Support circular wood economy and urban wood reuse.
- Leverage the Build Back Better legislation and the Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative funding to promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, enhance research and upgrade industrial technologies, and support domestic technology development and industrial diversification.
UNSDG Target 9.b: Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities.
Potential Indicators
- Surface temperature data; heat map
- Street lights
- Definitive public health data
- More health data in general
- Tree Canopy Report
- Tree protection ordinances as it relates to sidewalk disruptions
- All of the municipal ordinances on sidewalks, trees, etc.
- County Land Use Plan
- Vehicle miles traveled
- Data on the length of time it takes to gain ownership of delinquent property
- Effectiveness of efficiency programs for LMI communities or vulnerable populations
- Connections, case studies, sample ordinances
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Regional Targets
- Working on workforce development and training for weatherization, whole home repair, and energy efficiency programs.
- Help minority contractors gain access to jobs to help affordable housing.
- Triboro Affordable Housing Project
- Human-centered design to creatively address complex issues.
- Reducing energy burden for residents through renovations.
UNSDG Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
Regional Targets
- Do our best to be a rational, informed contributor to efforts to make mobility more sustainable and equitable.
- Help policymakers understand the importance of land use decisions.
- Remind people that transportation does not exist in a vacuum.
- Provide forums for people to come together and discuss barriers to achieving the regional target and work on ways to overcome them.
- Help communities get the resources they need to become more connected.
- Advise elected officials and others on how to build more mobility and create more equitable spaces.
- Reducing energy burden for residents through renovations.
- Move PGH: Transit and Micro-Mobility interconnectivity and fare integration (IP + DOMI).
- Move PGH: Guaranteed Basic Mobility Pilot (IP + DOMI + CMU).
UNSDG Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons.
Regional Targets
- Inclusive planning development with the Vibrant Communities Toolkit.
- Inclusive, sustainable urbanization with governments, agencies, and communities.
- Prioritize job growth in urban, transit connected neighborhoods with integrated workforce development programs.
- Work with municipalities about building and energy codes.
UNSDG Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
Regional Targets
- Require permits at building sites that have archaeological significance.
- Cultural Heritage fiscal sponsor; regrant arts and culture organizations/projects
UNSDG Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
Regional Targets
- Adopt hazard mitigation plans
- Chapter 105 permits to manage storm debris
- Stormwater (PCSM) permitting and technical assistance
- Plan and develop permitting of discharge
- Make grants for infrastructure repair of roads, bridges, and landslides
- Plantings to stabilize stream banks, wetlands, etc.
- Stabilize slopes and riparian areas
UNSDG Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
Regional Targets
- Reuse of old buildings – development of old schools to reduce carbon
- Trees clean air
- Trees cool which reduces air pollution
UNSDG Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
Regional Targets
- Preserve land with conservation easements
- Model ordinances
- Municipal collaboration – MS4 and pollution reduction plans
- Tree plantings and riparian buffer plantings
- Access to safe and inclusive green spaces
- Forest restoration for healthy and inclusive green spaces
- Green public space creation and preservation
- Primary/core to our mission: revitalization of green spaces and parks; focus on underserved representation and equity and inclusion
UNSDG Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
Regional Targets
- Incentivize green infrastructure and nature-based design
- Support sustainable and inclusive regulations and local development planning
- Inclusive planning development with the Vibrant Communities Toolkit
- Convening stakeholders across sectors
- Clean energy planning
UNSDG Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.
Regional Targets
- Work with DEP EJ lawyer, census tract data, justice 40 communities as weighted variable for making grants and choosing projects
- Anti-racism training/credential for local organizations
- Carbon, water, and energy reduction data
- Working to establish resiliency hubs (heating/cooling) and EMS services
UNSDG Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels.
Regional Targets
- Working on Solar For All grant to support installation of solar in underserved communities
- Working with developers to build solar panels in SWPA
- Adaptive reuse of commercial buildings with disinvested communities
- Advocacy cohort and capacity building
- Capacity building for community-based leaders/organizations
- Promote and scale healthy products
UNSDG Target 11.c: Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials.
Potential Indicators
- Surface temperature data; heat map
- Street lights
- Definitive public health data
- More health data in general
- Tree Canopy Report
- Tree protection ordinances as it relates to sidewalk disruptions
- All of the municipal ordinances on sidewalks, trees, etc.
- County Land Use Plan
- Vehicle miles traveled
- Data on the length of time it takes to gain ownership of delinquent property
- Effectiveness of efficiency programs for LMI communities or vulnerable populations
- Connections, case studies, sample ordinances
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Regional Targets
- Tree planting, community orchards build community bonds and eliminate/mitigate blight which leads to less crime.
UNSDG Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
Regional Targets
- Fight for community and priorities.
UNSDG Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.
Regional Targets
- Capacity building, civic engagement
- Right to know requests
UNSDG Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
Regional Targets
- Right to know requests
- Big money for infrastructure projects
- Community cohort learning
UNSDG Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
Regional Targets
- Right to know requests
UNSDG Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
Potential Indicators
- Surface temperature data; heat map
- Street lights
- Definitive public health data
- More health data in general
- Tree Canopy Report
- Tree protection ordinances as it relates to sidewalk disruptions
- All of the municipal ordinances on sidewalks, trees, etc.
- County Land Use Plan
- Vehicle miles traveled
- Data on the length of time it takes to gain ownership of delinquent property
- Effectiveness of efficiency programs for LMI communities or vulnerable populations
- Connections, case studies, sample ordinances
Partnerships for The Goals
Participants in DISCOVER conversations strategized ways to enhance effective partnerships within the region. The following points were defined as regional objectives.
Regional Targets
Finance
- Increased accuracy for assessment mechanisms used to determine tax collection
- Private developers build and redevelop responsibly in line with community-centered visions
- Corporations pay their fair share of corporate taxes
- Progressive taxation structures are implemented for all payers
- Advocacy for higher minimum wages
Technology
- Technical expertise that can be employed to achieve the goals of collaborative networks
- Open access to technology, tools, and resources
Capacity Building
- Advocacy coalitions are supported and effective
- Individual needs are recognized at a policy level
- Local government has nonprofit support to address environmental work and public safety
- Youth programming helps students to understand and implement the SDGs year after year making engaged, curious, future citizens
- Organizations are effective at conducting meetings, planning execution, and communication in support of healthy cultures with high capacity
- Public transit routes that connect students to their workplaces are prioritized
- Programming to educate younger generations on how to become a part of the SDGs
- Comprehensive training for police officers to effectively facilitate public safety is more widely available
Systemic Issues
- Use the Gender Equity Report as a tool for accountability
- BIPOC Women are our canary in a coal mine
- Transportation from under resourced neighborhoods to large employers based upon shift times
- Engage schools to identify data sets to highlight systemic discrimination to tackle inequalities
- New ways to gather policy ideas from people’s pain points and get feedback on what’s important, i.e., participatory budgeting
- More community-centered visioning
- Equitable opportunities for participating in deciding what the future should look like
- Collaboration with experts and policymakers on how to translate equitable participation into action items
Data, Monitoring, and Accountability
- Relevant organizations are mapped and their work is showcased
- Universities support data analysis, monitoring, and accountability systems through faculty research and student coursework
Title 5
Subheading 5
Content for box 5