How Can Sustainability Be Institutionalized?
Leadership
To institutionalize sustainability for the long term, there must first be leadership from both local elected officials and community residents. The most successful sustainability programs come from this combination of “top down” and “bottom up” leadership.
The leadership should be organized in a way that best helps the local government guide its sustainability efforts. Often a “Sustainability Steering Committee” is formed, incorporating residents, elected officials, staff and others. While the government does not want to over-structure its approach, coordination of all the interested parties is key to success.
Process for Change
Early in the sustainability effort the leadership should commit to addressing the need for change in everything the local government does — from policies to budget to staff, and from purchasing supplies to managing resources to renovating buildings. The leadership will need to establish a process of community input and decision-making that readily incorporates change.
Education
Implementing sustainability involves research and knowledge that is beyond the in-house ability of most local governments. Taking advantage of training and on-line materials is a necessary part of institutionalizing sustainability.
Communication
With the number of players involved, communication is key to the success of more sustainable practices in local government and the community. A regular form of communication needs to be established and maintained.
Staff
For the long term, success in implementing sustainability will depend on the commitment of local funds to support adequate staffing. However, it is important for the short term to lay the foundation for sustainability with community leadership, which will be primarily voluntary, before hiring staff. Buy-in is more likely with the engagement of the community before turning tasks over to staff.
When they are ready, local governments have hired staff in a variety of ways. Here are the most frequent choices:
- A full time sustainability officer or director
- A part time sustainability officer or director
- Assignment of sustainability tasks to a current staff member
Specific decisions about staffing depend on the size of the community, the amount of work anticipated and the funds available. Fundraising may be necessary to ensure the best staffing option. The decision of when to hire staff will differ given the needs of the local community and the support of the local government.
Here are several questions to ask to test readiness for hiring:
- Has the local government established a systematic approach for community members to be involved and give input on sustainability?
- Does the city have the financial resources to support a position and the costs associated with it?
- Do the elected officials and city staff department managers agree that they will accept sustainability advice and direction?
- Is the work load for sustainability putting a strain on other staff?
