Resources for a Sustainable Future at Miami-Dade MPO (text only)

Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization

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Contents: Overview | Search | Our Transportation Partners | Translate

Overview.

Sustainability is a relatively new term for many, and agreement as to what it means or how to achieve it remains an issue for debate. In a nutshell, Sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future.

In March 2009, Miami-Dade County was selected as one of three communities nationwide to participate in a sustainability planning toolkit pilot program through ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), the aim of which is to develop an overarching Sustainability Plan. The goal of the Miami-Dade County Sustainability Plan, branded GreenPrint - Our Design for a Sustainable Future, is to reaffirm, establish and synchronize the County government and community goals, initiatives and measures.

GreenPrint will be used as a model to replicate throughout local communities worldwide. It is quite an honor to have been chosen as a pilot community but, with it comes great responsibility.

GreenPrint is intended to be integrated with the County’s Strategic Plan, Comprehensive Development Master Plan, Aesthetic Master Plan, Water Use Efficiency Plan, as well as the Long Range Transportation Plan and Solid Waste Master Plan. The GreenPrint plan will serve as the framework to evaluate and integrate environmental, social and economic benefits in the policy decisions, programs and initiatives, and services Miami-Dade County delivers.

The planning process and GreenPrint will adhere to the following guiding principles:

The County will lead by example.
The concept of sustainability will guide County policy and decision-making.
Metrics and targets will be used to define goals and measure progress.
The County will collaborate with local municipalities to create a sustainability movement among all jurisdictions in the County.
Partnerships between jurisdictions and between the public and private sector are necessary to achieve sustainability goals.
Transparency and accountability will guide the County’s sustainability actions.
Initiatives in the plan will be designed to be aggressive but achievable.
The County will ensure the benefits of sustainability policies are equitably distributed to County residents.

The plan will reflect community demographics and the economy and include the following key sustainability components addressing both County operations and the community as a whole:

Air quality - Land use
Biscayne Aquifer and Bay water quality - Local food sources
Climate change mitigation/adaptation - Parks and open space
Civic engagement - Public safety
Ecosystems and habitat - Public health
Energy supply and demand - Schools and education
Government operations - Transportation fleets and transit
Green businesses and jobs - Water and sewer capacity
Green procurement - Water-use efficiency
Housing affordability - Waste capacity and recycling

Our Transportation Partners: (Next 24 items below have links to websites.)

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