Welcome to Office of Sustainability and Environment web site
We collaborate with City agencies, business groups, nonprofits, and others to improve our quality of life by protecting Seattle’s distinctive urban environment. Through a variety of initiatives, we strive to improve the efficiency of City services and to encourage residents, businesses, and households to do the same. The purpose of this site is not only to inform, but to inspire people and organizations to make Seattle a model of healthy, environmentally sustainable urban living.
Steve Nicholas, Director
206-615-0829
steve.nicholas@seattle.gov
Office of Sustainability and Environment’s Mission
The Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) provides leadership, tools, information and ideas to help City agencies, residents, households and businesses use natural resources efficiently, prevent pollution, and improve the economic, environmental, and social well-being of current and future generations.
How the Office of Sustainability and Environment addresses the Mayor’s priorities:
Build Strong Families and Healthy Communities
OSE leads the development and implementation of the Mayor’s Environmental Action Agenda, a Citywide program that advances all of the Mayor’s priorities. The Agenda protects and improves our urban environment, enhances neighborhood health and livability, and promotes environmental justice. Healthy natural and built environments support people, families and communities. OSE works for clean air, clean water, and healthy urban forests and landscapes by promoting environmentally sustainable practices -- especially environment- and people-friendly urban development practices.
Get Seattle Moving
Motor vehicles are the number one source of air pollution and climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions in our region, and a major source of water pollution as well. OSE promotes healthy and environment-friendly transportation choices, such as public transit, walking and biking, as well as cleaner vehicles and fuels.
Keep Our Neighborhoods Safe
Research suggests greener neighborhoods are safer neighborhoods. OSE coordinates the Mayor’s Green Seattle Initiative, a program to protect and restore our urban forest, and to “increase the green” in our neighborhoods by promoting green buildings and streets.
Create Jobs and Opportunity For All
A healthy environment is a key to Seattle’s past, present and future economic vitality. OSE helps businesses increase their profitability through strong environmental practices, such as resource conservation and pollution prevention. In addition, we promote business development and job creation in emerging “green” industry sectors, such as clean energy and green building.
The
Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) provides the
leadership, tools, and information to help City government and other
organizations use natural resources efficiently, prevent pollution,
and improve the economic, environmental, and social well-being of
current and future generations. OSE
specifically works with City departments and other partners to
facilitate and coordinate implementation of the City’s Environmental
Action Agenda. The
Environmental Action Agenda establishes four integrating themes for environmental
action:
1)
Lean Green City Government: efficient & eco-friendly City
government, 2) Healthy Urban
Environments: thriving, diverse nature & neighborhoods, 3)
Strong Environmental Practices: environmentally responsible practices, and
4) Smart Mobility: efficient, fair, convenient & clean transportation.
Specific OSE responsibilities include:
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Continuously
reduce the environmental impacts of the City’s operations,
facilities, and services
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Better
evaluate and integrate long-term economic, environmental, and social
costs and benefits into City plans, actions, and expenditures
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Leverage
City programs and services to catalyze and accelerate adoption of
responsible practices
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Accelerate
the adoption of more sustainable practices by Seattle businesses,
institutions, households, and citizens
The
Urban Sustainability Advisory Panel (USAP) guides implementation of
the City's environmental action agenda and sustainable development
initiatives. The USAP is comprised of members from the private
and public sectors and the group meets every quarter.
Publications & Reports
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