Our Mission:
Impact.
Build a future where sustainability is the norm for every community.
Our Work
The Sustainable States Network harnesses the power of local government to speed education and action on climate goals and clean energy. We connect statewide sustainability programs, enabling members to share resources and best practices, foster the success of local initiatives, and collaborate on projects that advance our shared goals. Network members represent nearly 2,000 large, medium, and small local governments that put sustainability on their policy agendas and collectively take action to improve the environment, quality of life, and local economies.
Our Impact
Network members represent both coasts as well as the center of the nation. These state-level programs support local governments as change agents for progress on sustainability, resilience, and climate mitigation. The results impact more than 65 million people in communities across the US.
Success Stories
“I am able to provide more quality technical assistance to my communities seeing certification because of the knowledge and resource sharing through the Network” - Kelsey Waidhas, Green Communities Program
“I was inspired by other member states’ activities and used their programs as a model for our revamped Regional Energy Planning Assistance grants.” - Joanne Bissetta, Massachusetts Green Communities
“We use the shared website and so were able to leverage other program’s improved features in the 10th anniversary launch of our new website.” - Brandy Espinola, Sustainable Maryland
Measures of Success
Sustainable States Network participants focus on the following high-leverage actions:
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Why State-Level Programs Succeed
We provide valuable experience, best practices, and tools so communities don’t have to go it alone in their work to implement sustainable practices. Resources were developed across communities and programs. Members have the opportunity to learn from each other and skip the challenging learning curve that others have gone through.
As a peer-learning network focused on making sustainability the norm, we focus on:
Realizing collective impact by mobilizing action by hundreds of cities
Centering social equity in our work
Collaborating on shared projects to increase program impact
Developing shared tools and resources for local governments
Sharing evaluation tools to accelerate success
Developing new areas of sustainable development practice
Creating visibility and a shared voice for the value of municipally-focused work and impact
Educating funders and national policymakers
How We Work
To fairly and efficiently address sustainability and quality-of-life goals at the community scale, we use the following process:
•Engage local governments
•Identify best practices
•Organize critical state actors including state agencies, non-profits, planning organizations, academic institutions, and industry, to coordinate policy and technical/financial resources that support local action
•Tailor national tools, best practices, resources and campaigns to a state’s legal, policy, political, and environmental context
•Support cities moving from pledges & plans to implementation by providing data, tools, training, and hands-on technical assistance
•Develop peer city engagement for regional action
•Measure, reward, and track city progress
Why a State-Network Leads to Success
Across the US, cities and states are taking action on climate. States set legal and policy contexts under which their cities operate. At the same time, because local governments have jurisdiction and the ability to create local regulations, communities have more flexibility and power to catalyze clean energy actions on a faster timeframe. Our state network positions communities for success for these reasons and more:
Nonprofits, public universities, extension programs, professional associations, etc., orient around state boundaries
Regional foundations, corporations, and other funders often orient around state boundaries
States are a common psychological frame for self-identification and organizing movements
State Spotlight:
Minnesota’s GreenStep Cities
Impact: Participation represents 48% of Minnesota’s population
Visit our State Programs page for details on work, impact, and success across our network.