Portlanders
cherish the environment and want it protected
for future generations.
Many appreciate that Portland sets a
high standard with its longstanding commitment
to incorporate nature into the urban environment.
Respondents recognize that there are current
sustainable programs and practices available
to residents, but that there is also wide
demand for enhancing the sustainable services
and programs to ensure that Portland’s
future generations will benefit even more
from the preserved environment. They understand
that responsibility for sustaining our
natural environment needs to come from
individuals, businesses and government,
but also that support systems should exist
to ensure everyone has access to a sustainable
lifestyle.
Portlanders are particularly interested
in expanding public education efforts,
especially for children, to help everyone
understand how they can play a part in
preserving a clean environment. They also
suggest that ongoing research be a priority
to ensure that Portland is making the
best decisions about how to support its
community members and businesses in sustainable
practices.
Simply put, Portlanders envision a cleaner
environment for in the future. They want
more care for and protection of the natural
environment and want to see the prevention
of global warming. Portlanders want to
implement changes in environmental practices
and policy that are innovative, and even
radical, compared to what exists today
in the city and across the country.
- Portlanders
overwhelmingly appreciate the city’s
natural environment.
- Much
more can be done to sustain and enhance
the urban natural environments.
- Portlanders
overwhelmingly appreciate the
city’s natural environment.
- People value the existing
environmental awareness and
consciousness of so many individual
Portlanders, organizations,
businesses and government.
- Many people appreciate how
clean Portland seems to be,
although there is a smaller
group that believes Portland
used to be cleaner.
- Portlanders like the responsibility
that the community shares with
regard to sustaining the natural
environment. The progressive
and environmentally friendly
attitudes of the general population
are exceptional.
| “…It
would seem our economy has
to grow to keep from collapsing.
Perhaps we need to change
our economy to be in step
with nature.” |
-
Much more can be done to sustain
and enhance the urban natural
environments.
- Local and regional natural
resources should be preserved.
- Portland should utilize its
capacity for cutting-edge leadership
in the field of environmentalism.
- The city needs to be more
proactive in reducing global
warming.
- There should be strict enforcement
of environmental standards.
- Businesses and corporations
can reach higher sustainability
standards.
- All buildings should become
Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) certified or “green.”
- Holistic and creative approaches
to preserve the environment
will have to be utilized.
| “Less
pollution gives us more
trees and more trees mean
fresher air and fresher
air means we are more healthy.
It is a chain reaction.” |
| “Reclaim
industrial sites along the
river with green space,
not more buildings…” |
| "Teach
my children values of keeping
our earth clean.” |
- Regional
approach: Multi-jurisdictional
approaches to environmental
policy are necessary.
- System-wide planning:
In order to consider environmental
zones and stream/waterway health,
invasive plants first need to
be addressed on public and private
land.
- People and environment:
"Human impact" needs to be factored
into decision-making concerning
the environment. Elect politicians
that care about the environment.
- Equity analysis: Evaluate
who benefits and who suffers
from environmental policy and change,
and analyze the impact
of the human footprint on the
environment.
- Education:
A vital part of sustaining the
environment is to further educate
the public, especially children,
about their responsibility in
environmental stewardship.
|
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