Mayor Kenney Presents Action Plan To Take Phila. Closer To William Penn's Green Country Towne
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- At an all-day sustainable energy conference at Temple University, stakeholders mapped out how they are connecting the dots now for a self-sufficient energy future.
The director of the Philadelphia Office of Sustainability, Christine Knapp says they recently took stock of the achievements since "Greenworks" launched in 2009.
Her PowerPoint presentation began with the startling figure that they've tripled the city's recycling rate.
"It's hard to remember that eight years ago, our residential recycling rate was about 5 percent."
Everything changed when weekly pickups allowed folks to put materials into one bin.
She also cites progress in stormwater management through a green infrastructure program, building out 100-miles of bike lanes and trails, as well as the launch of the bikeshare system.
Knapp says city government has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 9 percent, while city-wide, the reductions are only in the 2-3 percent range.
"It's important to note that both of those reductions have happened during one of the biggest development growth spurts in Philadelphia's history."
Also, the city has planted 128,000 new trees that didn't exist before. Knapp says having aggressive targets has helped to guide their work, even in cases in which they didn't meet goals.
Mayor Kenney says sustainability is more than stuff about the environment.
"It's not just equitable energy, it's equitable education and jobs. We often say 'no child's zip code should determine their future.'"