Resource: Statewide Sustainability Programs in the U.S.

Title:	Statewide Sustainability Programs in the U.S.
Resource type:	Article
Topics:	Statewide/Global
Keywords:	statewide, sustainable community programs, sustainable development programs, sustainable investment
Audience:	All
Region:	Minnesota Statewide, Outside Minnesota
Summary:	There are over a dozen US states that have ongoing state-wide sustainability efforts.
Content:	These efforts are coordinated in a variety of different ways - many by state government, some by non-profit organizations and public-private collaborations, or businesses. Each state program offers some on-line resources that would be of use to Minnesotans, organized and searchable in ways different than NextStep (so this would be a useful complement to NextStep). Below is a list of all the programs of which we are aware. If you know of other programs, please let us know! While each program promotes sustainability, each has a unique focus on different aspects of and approaches to sustainable development. For example, the heart of New Jersey's program is sustainability indicators. MINNESOTA: Minnesota Sustainable Communities Network http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us and Minnesota GreenStep Cities program http://www.MnGreenStep.org IOWA: Department of Economic Development http://www.iowalifechanging.com/community/ WISCONSIN: Wisconsin Partners for SustainAbility http://www.wiscpsa.org NEW JERSEY: The Institute for Sustainability Planning & Governance http://www.njssi.org/ and Sustainable Jersey at http://www.sustainablejersey.com/ RHODE ISLAND: Sustainable Rhode Island http://www.sustainableri.org OREGON: Sustainable Oregon http://www.SustainableOregon.net FLORIDA: Council for Sustainable Florida http://www.sustainableflorida.org Florida Green Building Coalition http://www.floridagreenbuilding.org (note Green Cities and Green Counties program) COLORADO: Connected Organizations for a Responsible Economy http://www.corecolorado.org WASHINGTON: Toward a Sustainable Washington http://www.ecy.wa.gov/sustainability MASSACHUSETTS: Massachusetts Leading by Example Program http://www.mass.gov/envir/Sustainable/default.htm (click on "Leading by Example" under Key Initiatives on the left margin) OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma Sustainability Network http://www.oksustainability.org/index.php NORTH CAROLINA: North Carolina Project Green http://www.ncprojectgreen.com/ ARIZONA: Sustainable Arizona http://www.sustainablearizona.org GEORGIA: Sustainability Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources http://www.gasustainability.org/ The following three states have "green government programs", although not explicitly focused on sustainability: INDIANA: Greening the Government http://www.in.gov/idoa/2343.htm PENNSYLVANIA: Governor's Green Government Council http://www.gggc.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/governor%27s_green_government_council/13828 CALIFORNIA: Green California http://www.green.ca.gov/default.htm
Suggested by:	Paul Moss
Added:	09/14/05
Updated:	03/11/11