Positive Impacts

Sustainability requires a foundational approach that simultaneously integrates social equity, environmental stewardship, and economic development in decision-making.

A sustainable community:

• embraces transparency and sees community engagement as a core function of policy creation and enforcement.
• Is actively working to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to the rapidly changing climate.
• provides access and opportunities for all of its residents and those who live in the region.
• is a desired location to start and expand innovative businesses and transformational organizations. 
• seeks to challenge the status quo and learn from past failures, without being held prisoner by them.
• assesses and re-assesses the state of sustainability in the community, makes plans, sets goals and achieves them, and openly reports to an engaged citizenry about both their successes and failures. 
• is actively engaged in regional and larger discussions about the work they are doing and how it fits into the larger vision of a sustainable future.

A municipality that fully embraces the policies and practices of the Sustainable Pennsylvania Certification will reap benefits for the entire community. Sustainable PA is designed to take advantage of the specific powers and influence of a municipal government and its stakeholders to bring positive and lasting change to the community.