The right resources can help agencies reach key sustainability targets
We need to increase municipal resources to achieve sustainability goals, says Paul Mathisen, director of sustainability and associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Mass.
The professor spotlights several basic resources that cities and counties need:
- Funding: These monies cover both capital and operating budgets.
- Staffing: An adequate number of project personnel will help municipal leaders measure progress and implement steps to reach sustainability targets.
- Expertise: Essential skillsets are required in order to comprehend how best to win funding grants and meet periodic funding reporting requirements.
- Partners: “Partners and cooperation are needed to allow for the breadth of engagement from all stakeholders,” Mathisen tells Co-op Solutions.
And don’t forget the benefits of putting a sustainability coordinator on the government’s payroll, Mathisen explains: “I personally think that designating a coordinator or manager is extremely beneficial in achieving sustainability goals. I feel that designating an employee with sufficient time allocated towards this role (with assistance/contributions from other staff) would be important to make progress and reach key sustainability targets and objectives.” The professor notes that municipal staff-members are often overextended and may not have experience in the area. That overwork and fatigue, he explains, can make it difficult to put in the time required to manage all that is involved in meeting sustainability goals.
Mathisen says the strategies and tactics local governments employ to achieve their sustainability goals depend a lot on the resources that the cities and counties have in place. He outlines a few potential tactics:
- Close cooperation with ALL stakeholders (e.g., citizens, non-government organizations, private companies/industries; universities, members of various departments within the town).
- Establish indicators and specific targets, and ensure that resources are in place to both assess and meet those target.
- Work to increase resources and time available to address these challenges.
As communities strive for increased levels of sustainability, Mathisen says it is crucial that government officials keep in mind the full lifecycle of products purchased by their agencies and departments. He adds that for planning, it is important to consider the government’s short- and long-term needs as procurements are made.
He also urges government leaders to recognize the breadth of sustainability (economic, environmental and social justice) and recognize benefits across all three areas and consider the relationships between different aspects of resource/infrastructure concerns. Mathisen offers this example: “Water and energy, and even transportation infrastructure are often related, and careful consideration of various inter-relationships can lead to cost savings and benefits.”
Mathisen says cities/counties can use several technologies to help them meet sustainability goals. He notes that geographical information systems (GIS) software serves as a valuable tool for spatial analysis and data management. He explains that yes, this software has been around for a while, “but improvements are increasing its potential and wider use for assessment, presentation and community education.”
Drone technologies and robotic systems, explains the professor, have tremendous potential for monitoring in locations that are difficult to access. “I recently worked with a number of colleagues from our robotics department on a research project on developing flexible robots fitted with sensors that can be used to monitor conditions in building areas that are difficult to access. It’s still in development, but I feel that technologies like this have great potential.”
Local governments, says Mathisen, can achieve sustainability wins in the short term by getting buy-in from members of the community, and recognizing the need for longer-term integrated planning, to address resiliency problems in a cost-effective manner.
The professor notes that long-term integrated planning is needed to prepare and plan effectively for the future. “One area of concern involves adaptation to a changing climate. Given the new needs/requirements for reducing greenhouse gas production, and the timeline for incorporating changes to accommodate these needs, I feel as though a combination of immediate action and long-term planning for future actions is important.”
Mathisen predicts a few sustainability trends in local government in 2023-2024, including:
- Increased pressure and interest in formalizing sustainability approaches (e.g., with need for a sustainability manager or coordinator to meet goals).
- Stronger efforts to coordinate and communicate more closely with members of the community.
- Increased efforts to integrate cutting-edge technology.
- Recognition of the importance of equity and environmental justice.
Michael Keating is senior editor for American City & County. Contact him at [email protected].