Welcome to the Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange (“the Exchange”)
The Exchange, a project of the Global Philanthropy Partnership, seeks to activiate local governments and water agencies in the U.S. and Canada to implement green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) equitably.
WHY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS?
Local governments are legally required to manage stormwater so as to protect the quality of our drinking water and the health of rivers, streams, and other surface waters. Climate change is making that job more difficult, resulting in a need for solutions that can complement traditional stormwater management methods.
WHY GSI?
In its simplest form, GSI refers to the use of plants and soils to manage stormwater. But it can also include permeable pavement and other systems for filtering, capturing and storing stormwater. Best of all, GSI has other “co-benefits,” meaning it can also beautify neighborhoods, provide green play spaces, and create new jobs.
WHY EQUITY?
Owing to discriminatory policies like redlining, many urban neighborhoods suffer from a lack of infrastructure investments. As a result, they are often warmer, with fewer places for kids to play and greater exposure to flooding and other ills. Focused in such places, GSI holds promise for making these neighborhoods more liveable.
WHAT’S NEW
Attending “RISC:” The Takeaways
On June 7, I was fortunate to attend the in-person meeting of Resilient Infrastructure for Sustainable Communities (RISC) at the Museum of Modern Art in Chicago. RISC is a cluster of public and private sector professionals focused on climate resiliency via delivery...
The Strategic Plan & Its Communications Priorities: 3 Takeaways
During the closing plenary session, Exchange Executive Director, Barbara Hopkins, provided a brief overview of the strategic plan, focusing on the priorities related to enhancing communications, especially draft versions of a new logo. Below are 3 takeaways and...
A Proposed Scope of Work for a GSI Playbook: 3 Takeaways
At a plenary session of the 2023 Annual Meeting, Rose Jordan of Greenprint Partners presented a draft scope of work for a GSI Playbook. Below are 3 takeaways and the highlights of audience feedback on the proposal: Member focus groups organized by Greenprint revealed...
The State of Public Sector GSI, 2022: 3 Takeaways
Rose Jordan of Greenprint Partners offered an overview of the recently-released State of Public Sector GSI Report during a plenary session at the 2023 Annual Meeting. Below are 3 takeaways from her presentation, followed by highlights of audience of feedback: The most...
Environmental Justice at the Intersection of GI & Climate Resilience: 3 Takeaways
A 2023 Annual Meeting plenary session asked the question, "What Does Environmental Justice Look Like at the Intersection of Green Infrastructure and Climate Resilience?" It featured 3 recorded presentations followed by an audience discussion session. Below are 3...
Insider Views on Green City, Clean Waters: 3 Takeaways
As part of the welcome plenary sessions at the 2023 Annual Meeting, Marc Cammarata, a Deputy Commissioner at the Philadelphia Water Department, and Elaine Montes, a Program Manager in the Office of Sustainability, offered comments on Philadelphia's Green City, Clean...
