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Home > Resources & News > Reports

Southwestern Pennsylvania Sustainability Goals + Indicators Report 2016

December 26, 2016 by Sustainable Pittsburgh

Sustainable Pittsburgh last presented this regional sustainability goals and indicators report in 2004. In tracking the region’s progress, we see that much has changed, while too many things remain the same.  Not changing however, is the reason we produce the report.  The old saying, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” applies.  Sustainable Pittsburgh is resolute that we as a region need to take stock of key issues, throw all we have at the ones that need to be fixed and continually take stock of our progress.

This 124 page report provides a suite of measures of the overarching, regional issues that cut across our geopolitical boundaries of southwestern Pennsylvania. The 29 sustainability indicators detailed in this report were selected during an extensive public engagement process. Overall, the indicators show a region that has one foot squarely planted in a new and promising economy that is clean, equitable, renewable, healthy and based on sustainable business and community practice.

Download the report

This 124 page report provides a suite of measures of the overarching, regional issues that cut across our geopolitical boundaries of southwestern Pennsylvania. The 29 sustainability indicators detailed in this report were selected during an extensive public engagement process. Overall, the indicators show a region that has one foot squarely planted in a new and promising economy that is clean, equitable, renewable, healthy and based on sustainable business and community practice.

Report Highlights

The Road To Sustainability: Signs of progress reported, but steep challenges lie ahead (article from Pittsburgh Quarterly)

Table of Contents

PREFACE
SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS
INTRODUCTION
A region forged in steel turns toward a sustainable future.
PEOPLE

  • Racial Equity
    GOAL: Equitable opportunity
  • Social Capital
    GOAL: A wealth of social capital
  • General Health
    GOAL: Long, healthy lives
  • Health Care Access
    GOAL: Universal access to quality health care
  • Infant Health
    GOAL: Safe births, healthy babies
  • Mental Health
    GOAL: Universal mental health and well being
  • Voting
    GOAL: More voters voting; more democracy
  • Equity of Political Representation
    GOAL: Diversity of elected offcials that matches the diversity of the region’s population

PLANET

  • Air Quality
    GOAL: Clean, healthy air every day
  • Toxic Emissions
    GOAL: Reduction in toxic chemical production, use and emissions
  • Water Quality: Combined Sewer Overflow
    GOAL: Clean water for recreational use
  • Water Quality: Bromide and Total Dissolved Solids
    GOAL: High quality water to support ecosystem health and human use
  • Ecosystem Health
    GOAL: An ecological balance for native species
  • Environmental Ethic
    GOAL: A strong regional environmental ethic
  • Energy Use
    GOAL: 100 percent clean, renewable energy use
  • Waste and Recycling
    GOAL: Efficient lifestyles; sustainable levels of consumption

PLACE

  • Crime
    GOAL: Safe, secure, stable communities
  • Housing
    GOAL: Good and a ordable housing for all
  • Mobility
    GOAL: Easy and resource-efficient mobility
  • Land Use
    GOAL: Efficient, equitable land use
  • Cultural Life
    GOAL: A rich, vibrant and diverse cultural life
  • Recreational Opportunities
    GOAL: Universal access to high- quality amenities

PERFORMANCE

  • Cost of Living
    GOAL: Affordability to allow for a basic, decent lifestyle for all residents
  • Unemployment
    GOAL: Full, productive, stable employment
  • Wages
    GOAL: High returns on individual labor
  • Poverty
    GOAL: Reduce poverty
  • Regional Cooperation
    GOAL: Effective regional cooperation
  • Graduation Rates
    GOAL: High graduation rates in our schools
  • Internet Access
    GOAL: Equitable access to computers and the Internet

SOURCES/NOTES
ABOUT SUSTAINABLE PITTSBURGH
CONTRIBUTORS

Sustainable Pittsburgh

307 Fourth Avenue, Suite 700
Pittsburgh, PA 15222 USA

412-258-6642 (phone)
info@sustainablepittsburgh.org


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