Sustainable Pittsburgh

MS4 Compliance: Money Does Grow on Trees
2020-09-22 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | LGA Online
Trees can be quantified and monetized for public benefit. Discover the community value of a healthy tree canopy and the environmental benefits trees provide to local communities. Learn about our latest threat to local trees: the spotted lanternfly. Instructors—Joe Stavish, Manager of Community Education, and Kinsey Miller, Community Forester, Tree Pittsburgh

Clean Jobs Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania's Key to Economic Recovery
2020-09-23 11:00 - 12:00 | Online, 1435 Bedford Avenue, Suite 140, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Please join E2 to examine the findings of our just-released Clean Jobs Pennsylvania 2020 report.
Our discussion will outline how 2019 marked the seventh straight year of growth in Pennsylvania clean energy jobs and why clean energy has the greatest potential to support future economic growth as we recover from the job losses suffered as a result of COVID-19.

Right of Way: How Racial and Class Disparities Created a Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America
2020-09-24 13:15 - 14:45 | Online, 1435 Bedford Avenue, Suite 140, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Presented by: the Security and Sustainability Forum
In the last ten years, there has been a 50 percent increase in pedestrian deaths. In 2018 alone more than 6,000 pedestrians were killed while walking in America. Yet, despite the increase in deaths, the tragedy of traffic violence has barely registered with the media and wider culture. Disproportionately, the victims are immigrants, the poor, and people of color. They have largely been blamed and forgotten. The media barely covers these tragedies as they victims often in low-income neighborhoods.
What appears at first to be “accidentals”, under greater scrutiny, reveals itself to be a predictable, stark geographic patterns that tell a story about systemic inequality. These deaths are the forgotten faces of an increasingly urgent public-health crisis that we have the tools, but not the will, to solve. Why are these people dying? What’s necessary to reframe the problem, acknowledge racism and classism in our public response to safety, and energize road safety advocates? How can we create programs, policies, and movements that respond to the epidemic?

PennCEF with Pollster Glen Bolger: Do Pennsylvanians support clean and renewable energy?
2020-09-24 15:00 - 16:00 | Online, 1435 Bedford Avenue, Suite 140, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Pollster Glen Bolger of Public Opinion Strategies will give a presentation on Do Pennsylvanians Support Clean and Renewable Energy?
PennCEF commissioned Bolger earlier this year to conduct polling in the Commonwealth to determine support for Community Solar legislation in Pennsylvania.
The results were surprising and affirmed Pennsylvania citizens want red tape out of the way which prohibits farms, businesses and landowners from sharing a solar installation with one another.
In addition, Glen will share his latest data on the support for renewable energy nationally.
This is critical data for legislators, proponents of clean and renewable energy and those in this industry to understand the broad support there is among widely varying demographics in Pennsylvania and our country as a whole.

National Drive Electric Week
2020-09-26 08:00 - 2020-10-04 17:00 | Online, 1435 Bedford Avenue, Suite 140, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
The number of electric cars registered in Pennsylvania increased 50 percent in 2018. Although electric vehicles are still a small fraction of registered vehicles, the trend is clear: More Pennsylvanians want to drive electric vehicles for work and personal use.
Local governments, businesses, and residents are increasingly interested in the lifetime cost savings: Electric vehicles need less maintenance than gasoline or diesel vehicles and cost 50 – 70 percent less to fuel. Many want to drive these zero-emission vehicles to help improve air quality in their communities. Others want to do their part to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and slow climate change.
Most people have a lot of questions about driving electric vehicles: What are they like to drive? How far will they go on a charge? Where are the charging stations? Is there any financial assistance to buy an electric vehicle or install a charger? Are electric trucks available?
Join us for this free webinar series on the benefits and basics of driving electric in Pennsylvania. Our broad range of speakers, including both experts and new converts, will answer your questions, share their knowledge and experiences, and get you as close to driving electric as virtually possible!

Clean and Renewable Energy is Essential to National Security with Dr. John Lehman, Former Secretary of the Navy
2020-09-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Online, 1435 Bedford Avenue, Suite 140, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Dr. John Lehman, former Secretary of the Navy will give a presentation on Clean and Renewable Energy is Essential to National Security!
Dr. John Lehman came to know that renewable energy sources were essential to the security of the United States as a result of the findings of the 9/11 Commission on which he served.
The findings indicated that our energy grid is open to enemy attack, both physical and cyber. As we have gained energy independence, our grid is more secure, but still susceptible to attack.
Our military bases and forces having the capability to provide energy independent of the grid will make them safer and have the ability to continue operations should the grid go down.
Dr. Lehman has not only talked the talked, but walked the walk by installing a solar field on his property in eastern Pennsylvania. It has been an expensive and long process due to complaints from neighbors, but he has prevailed and is looking to add additional solar in the future.
During this Town Hall you will hear from the man Ronald Reagan trusted to build the U.S. Navy into a modern force which stood against our enemies during the Cold War and prevailed.

Green Stormwater Infrastructure in SWPA: The Case for Maintenance and Monitoring
2020-09-29 14:00 - 15:00 | LGA Online
For municipal leaders and public works departments interested in green stormwater infrastructure, having maintenance and monitoring strategies is key. Join us for this presentation discussing case studies revolving around how design influences maintenance, how maintenance relates to GSI longevity and performance, and how high cost does not equate to high performance. Instructor—David Himes, Sustainable Communities Coordinator, Penn State Center, Pittsburgh.

A Path to Food Justice
2020-09-29 16:00 - 18:00 | Online, 1435 Bedford Avenue, Suite 140, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
The Pittsburgh Food Policy Council proudly presents “A Path to Food Justice: the Greater Pittsburgh Food Action Plan,” a virtual release event for our region’s first food action plan. With over 750 resident voices and the contributions of dozens of business, nonprofit, university, community, and government Council members and partners, the Greater Pittsburgh Food Action Plan sets out a community-centered set of strategies that prioritize healthy, affordable, and sustainable food for all in Allegheny County.
Join us to hear from frontline leaders working to nourish our communities, protect our shared natural resources, and forward equity across our region’s food system. To learn more about how to align efforts in our region for food systems change, register today! This is the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council September Member Meeting. All are welcome!

PRC Hard to Recycle Collection Event
2020-10-03 09:00 - 13:00 | Settlers Cabin Park Wave Pool Parking Lot, 635 Ridge Road, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Since 2003, Pennsylvania Resources Council has held Hard to Recycle collections in Southwestern PA. The goal is to provide responsible and convenient disposal for items that are not eligible for curbside recycling. At these events, individuals have been able to recycle items such as e-waste, cell phones, polystyrene, Freon-containing appliances, tires, and more.

Regional Move Forward Summit
2020-10-06 09:00 - 11:00 | Online, 1435 Bedford Avenue, Suite 140, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Presented by the Allegheny Conference:
Together, we will review the major disruptions – positive and negative – that are affecting our region. This includes everything from the impact on our quality of life, loss of employment opportunities, widening social disparities and pandemic-induced challenges to the region’s businesses and key industry sectors.
During the event, you will work with your peers and regional leaders from across sectors to better understand our post-COVID potential, to identify the actions already happening to move our region forward and to determine what else we need to do together to set our region on the path toward the regional vitality we all want.
As we rise to meet the challenges and capture a better future for our entire region, we have a chance to leapfrog the competition and position our region as a global leader.

Creating Partnerships to Advance Sustainable Packaging
2020-10-06 13:00 - 14:00 | Online, 1435 Bedford Avenue, Suite 140, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Recent news on ocean pollution and climate change has led consumers to become more aware of packaging choices, including whether the brands they support align with their desire to reduce packaging waste. The packaging industry has taken notice, prioritizing sustainable packaging solutions to promote circular solutions.
As this shift to sustainability becomes more permanent, brands and converters are looking to develop relationships with industry partners who can help provide cost-effective, sustainable solutions that don’t compromise performance or quality.
In this webcast, Sun Chemical will share how partnering across the supply chain can help lead to sustainable innovations and drive wider adoption throughout the industry, creating climate solutions while helping to achieve corporate sustainability goals.

Crisis Averted - How Local Officials Can Create Calm During Emergencies
2020-10-08 12:00 - 13:00
Participants will learn how to navigate difficult engagements with the public during a time of social, political, or public health crisis (such as flooding or other water disaster). Specific instances of good and bad responses to public concerns/actions will be discussed. Participants should walk away with a working knowledge of how to “diagnose” a difficult situation and respond effectively to not compound the crisis.

Presented by Mark Heckmann, MJH Advisor

October 8, 2020
12:00 PM – 1:00

Register Here

Municipal Pension and Pension Alternatives
2020-10-08 14:00 - 15:00 | LGA Online
With ever tightening budgets, what alternatives are available to municipalities to reduce costs associated with providing a retirement benefit? This presentation will cover the types of plans are replacing traditional pensions and employer responsibilities and costs associated with these plans. Instructor—Patrick Reisinger, Senior Director, Retirement Services, Centurion, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC company.

Municipal Best Practices for Social Media in a Hyper-Connected World
2020-10-10 14:00 - 15:00 | LGA Online
For Managers, HR Directors, and Communications Directors, this workshop will identify best practices for social media policies that respect First Amendment rights while protecting your municipality. Instructor—Cindy Bahn, Director of Administrative Services, Bellevue Borough

Building Community Resilience
2020-10-13 14:00 - 15:00 | LGA Online
The Community Resilience Building (CRB) process has been used by over 400 municipalities across 9 states to collaboratively and comprehensively generate resilience action plans at the local level. This presentation will provide an overview of resilience from a municipal and regional perspective within the context of the CRB process. Instructors—Adam Whelchel, Ph.D., Director of Science, The Nature Conservatory and Jim Price, Program Manager, Sustainable Pittsburgh.
