Search best practice actions by a related area

Create or participate in a marketing/outreach/incentive program to promote/achieve residential energy/water use reduction and energy efficiency.

Adopt a comprehensive plan or (for Category B & C cities) adopt a future land use plan that was adopted by the county or a regional entity.

Organize or participate in a community planning/placemaking/design process for the city/a mixed-use district, including specific community engagement practices that engage cultural and income diverse community members.

Participate in regional economic development planning with representatives from surrounding townships, cities, the county and business interests to:

Support and protect wildlife through habitat rehabilitation, preservation and recognition programs.

Adopt a complete streets policy, or a living streets policy, which addresses landscaping and stormwater.

Conduct an Active Living campaign such as a Safe Routes to School program.

Prominently identify mobility options: transit; paratransit/Dial-A-Ride; ridesharing/cab services; rental cars; bikes; airports.

Certify as a Tree City USA.

Build community capacity to protect existing trees by one or more of:

Conduct a tree inventory or canopy study for public and private trees.

Develop a program to involve community members in hands-on land restoration, invasive species management and stewardship projects.

Conduct or support multi-party community conversations, assessments, plans and actions around improving local water quality and quantity.

Create/assist a Lake Improvement District.

Use a community process to address failing septic systems.

Inclusive and Coordinated Decision-Making: Use a city commission or committee to lead, coordinate, report to and engage community members on the identification and equitable implementation of sustainability best practices.

Public Education for Action: Conduct or support a broad sustainability education and action campaign, building on existing city & community relationships, networks & events involving:

Planning with a Purpose: Conduct a community visioning and planning initiative that engages a diverse set of community members & stakeholders and uses a sustainability, resilience, or environmental justice framework such as:

Engaging the Next Generation: Engage wide representation of community youth and college students by creating opportunities to participate in city government (including commissions).

Expanding Community Engagement: Engage Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), renters, low-income, new Americans, differently abled and other traditionally under-represented community members by encouragement, and support to participate in current and new opportunities in city government.

Promote resident/business purchases and/or generation of clean energy by:

Support a community solar garden or help community members participate in a community solar project by:

Measurably increase institutional buying, and sales through groceries and restaurants.

Prepare to maintain public health and safety during extreme weather and climate-change-related events, while also taking a preventive approach to reduce risk for community members.

Integrate climate resilience into city or tribal planning, policy, operations, and budgeting processes.

Increase social connectedness through engagement, capacity building, public investment, and opportunities for economically vulnerable residents to improve their economic prosperity and resilience to climate change.

Encourage private sector action and incentivize investment in preventive approaches that reduce risk and minimize impacts of extreme weather and the changing climate for human health and the built environment.

Improve local energy resilience by minimizing fuel poverty, installing distributed renewable energy systems, and developing microgrids that can improve energy system resiliency.