Philadelphia.– The City’s Office of Sustainability (OOS), in partnership with the Philadelphia City Fund, received a $600,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation to develop a comprehensive and equitable Climate Resilience Plan with input from residents and stakeholders across the city. The grant will support the City’s launch of an inclusive and equitable public engagement process, ensuring residents and local organizations play an important role in planning for and building resilience to climate change.

«Philadelphians are already feeling the impacts of climate change, with communities like Eastwick and Hunting Park on the frontlines of increased extreme heat and flooding events,» said Sinceré Harris, Chief Deputy Mayor, Intergovernmental Affairs, Sustainability and Engagement. «Updating the climate resilience plan marks a significant step forward in the City’s preparedness for emergency events and chronic stressors caused by climate change. This plan will provide crucial guidance to build Philadelphia’s resilience, protecting residents, communities, businesses and infrastructure.»

OOS has been working across departments to lay the groundwork for an updated Climate Resilience Plan that looks at climate risk and vulnerabilities throughout Philadelphia and identifies climate solutions and actions to increase resilience. The plan will address citywide impacts to vulnerable populations, neighborhoods, assets, infrastructure and municipal services. In the next phase, OOS will lead a public engagement process to gather input from stakeholders across the city.

With support from the grant from the William Penn Foundation, OOS:

• Hired a two-year Climate Resilience Planning and Engagement Specialist position to lead community engagement.
• Will launch a resident steering committee and Resilience Ambassador program to increase public involvement.
• Will conduct citywide inclusive and equitable engagement using a variety of engagement strategies, including in-person meetings, trainings and workshops, virtual engagements, community build days, and arts-centered activities.
• Will issue a Request for Proposal seeking additional support for the Climate Resilience Plan update and implementation of the citywide engagement process.

In addition, OOS has launched a public survey to gather information about climate vulnerabilities, knowledge gaps, and short-term and long-term needs and actions.

Visit the blog to learn about the Climate Resilience Plan process and how to get involved.

“We invite residents and local organizations citywide to help shape the updated climate resilience plan to ensure it reflects their community’s needs and experiences with climate impacts,» said Liz Lankenau, Director, Office of Sustainability. «When we prioritize residents’ voices through an inclusive public engagement process and innovative programs like the Resilience Ambassador program, we can develop a plan that is both comprehensive and equitable.»

The City’s first resilience plan, released in 2015, focused on identifying municipal vulnerabilities to climate change and strategies for departments to build resilience.

“An update to the climate resilience plan is long overdue and we are thrilled to now have the resources to partner with community members and stakeholders on this planning process,” said Abby Sullivan, Chief Resilience Officer, Office of Sustainability. “Within city government we are doing a lot to prepare for climate change, but Philadelphia will be its best and be most resilient if we elevate the voices of those most impacted by climate change and leverage the incredible work already happening at the community-level and across sectors. We need imagination and resourcefulness and better coordination to tackle this unprecedented challenge — we invite everyone to participate!”

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About the City’s Office of Sustainability
The Office of Sustainability (OOS) works with partners around the city to improve quality of life in all Philadelphia neighborhoods, through advancing environmental justice, progressing Philadelphia’s climate and energy goals, and preparing the city for a hotter and wetter future. For more information, visit phila.gov/sustainability. 

About the Philadelphia City Fund
The Philadelphia City Fund is an independent charitable organization which serves as the dedicated fiscal sponsor for the City of Philadelphia and leverages public-private partnerships in collaboration with the City, the philanthropic community, and the residents of Philadelphia.

About William Penn Foundation 
The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is committed to expanding access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all. We do this through funding programs in the Philadelphia region in arts and culture, children and families, democracy and civic initiatives, environment and public space, and workforce training and services. Learn more at www.williampennfoundation.org.