Page 38 - Greensboro, NC-GSO 2040 Comprehensive Plan

PRIORITIZING SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability describes Greensboro's role in environmental
stewardship, building social equity, and creating a resilient
economy. This Big Idea focuses on protecting our natural resources
and ensuring that residents live in a healthy environment, have
equitable access to public services, have a voice in governance, and
that Greensboro’s economy is resilient to changes at the regional,
national, and global scale.

Why Prioritize Sustainability?
Sustainability is the process of continuous improvement towards
environmental stewardship, social equity, and a resilient economy.
It is a way of thinking and acting that considers the long-term,
indirect, cumulative, and global effects of human activity on the
Earth’s natural systems, with the aim of repairing past damage and
preventing future degradation. Promoting a sustainable community
means following a path toward ensuring that all future generations
benefit from the same, or better, quality of life than we do now.

During public engagement opportunities, a wide range of
participants expressed strong interest in having the Plan include
goals and strategies to address issues related to sustainability and
resilience. This was consistent across multiple meetings in different
parts of Greensboro. In a complex system such as a city, balancing
these objectives is a continual, dynamic process that involves action,
feedback, assessment, and further action. The goal is to build an
enduring community that meets the needs of our residents now and
into the future.

Greensboro’s Vision predicts a future in which we are the greenest
city in the Southeast, with a high level of equity, and a prosperous
and resilient economy. The principles of sustainability featured
prominently in the Plan’s Vision and Values will serve as the City’s
guide for policymaking, growth, and change over the next 20 years
and reflect the importance of sustainability expressed by participants
in the planning process. Changes in technology, the climate, and
the economy will continue at a rapid pace, and the ability of our
community to adapt will be key to our ability to flourish.

35 |GSO 2040 Comprehensive Plan