Local and county public officials joined Sustain Charlotte in a press conference on Aug. 5, 2014 to announce the public release of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Sustainability Report Card: Scoring Our Economic, Environmental, and Social Health. The inaugural quantitative report card marks the first independently researched and written report that assesses the current health of the community using 57 metrics spanning nine issues.
Shannon Binns, founder and director of Sustain Charlotte was joined by Mecklenburg County Commissioner Pat Cotham, Charlotte City Council Member John Autry, and Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio, all of whom spoke at the press conference held in Marshall Park. Charlotte City Council Members David Howard, Vi Lyles and Greg Phipps were also in attendance.
Using a methodology and years of data from a variety of sources, the authors have generated a report card for each issue and provided 94 recommendations for how Charlotte-Mecklenburg can accelerate progress. The nine issues assessed include: Air Quality, Energy Use, Equity + Empowerment, Food, Jobs + Income, Land Use, Transportation, Waste and Water Use.
“We’ve taken an objective, quantitative approach to assessing our progress on the issues that affect the quality of life for today’s residents as well as those who come after us,” Binns said. “We hope our leaders as well as all residents who call Mecklenburg home will take our recommendations to heart, and make the choices we must make to ensure a vibrant future.”
“Through this report, Sustain Charlotte has held up a mirror for us to reflect on where we are making progress and where we are not. This is a vital contribution as it helps us know what we need to focus on, and I am committed to taking the necessary steps to put our community on a sustainable path,” Cotham said.
“Charlotte aspires to be a national leader and this report provides valuable insights and recommendations that will help us achieve this goal—if we act on them,” said Charlotte City Council Member John Autry.
Source: Sustain Charlotte