The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld recognized Arizona State University’s Sustainable Cities Network in a ceremony this week. The Pacific Southwest Region’s 2012 Green Government Award was presented to Anne Reichman, Program Manager for the Sustainable Cities Network at ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability.
The Sustainable Cities Network (the Network) is a program created by Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability (GIOS) according to the EPA, “to increase regional dialogue and action amongst Arizona communities. In partnership with local city, county and tribal leaders from the Valley, GIOS established the voluntary Network in late 2008, linking together municipal and tribal sustainability practitioners from over 25 jurisdictions and Maricopa County. Through the regular meetings of its five workgroups, the Network educates and works with local community partners to streamline green city operations and design sustainable neighborhoods.”
The Network has obtained grants to fund workgroup initiatives associated with green infrastructure, low impact development (LID), and streamlining solar processes. The Sustainable Cities Network is a university/community-based sustainability outreach program. Supporters says it serves as a successful model that can be replicated by other universities to create community engagement focused on “greening government.”
The EPA Pacific Southwest Region’s Environmental Awards program “acknowledges commitments and contributions to protecting the environment” in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Pacific Islands and tribal lands. Groups and individuals were selected from nominees received this year from businesses, government officials, tribes, media, academia, environmental organizations and community activists.
The Global Institute of Sustainability is considered the “hub of Arizona State University’s sustainability initiatives,” which “advances research, education, and business practices for an urbanizing world.”