Sustainability and Indicators at EPA Ecoinformatics Meeting June, 2007 Copenhagen William Sonntag w/credit to Ethan McMahon Office of Environmental Information U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

2 What are USEPA Drivers For Sustainability Nature of environmental problems –Future problems may be addressed best through stewardship and collaboration Expansion of environmental governance approaches –Future likely will have multiple models (e.g., government encouraging stewardship) Trends in EPA programs –Considerable experience in stewardship programs Interest by external partners –Growing interest by companies, communities, states and others

3 EPA Vision for stewardship: All parts of society actively take responsibility to improve environmental quality and achieve sustainable results. Four segments of society: individuals, companies, communities, and government organizations Focus on sustainability of six natural resource systems Air: Sustain clean and healthy air Ecosystems: Protect and restore ecosystem functions, goods, and services Energy: Generate clean energy and use it efficiently Land: Support ecologically sensitive land management and development Materials: Use materials carefully and shift to environmentally preferable materials Water: Sustain water resources of quality and availability for desired uses Sustainability and Stewardship

4 Implementation at EPA Action AreasExamples 1. Focus on priority environmental problems Energy Star Ecosystem protection Community stewardship 2. Engage individualsGreat American Woodstove Changeout Program National Environmental Education Grant Program 3. Showcase best practices and accomplishments State EPA symposium to share experiences Collaborative Science & Tech. Network for Sustainability 4. Lead by exampleEPA facilities Sustainability training Assistance to other federal agencies 5. Mainstream environmental stewardship into EPA decision processes EPA Strategic Plan Sustainability Research Strategy Sustainability outcomes and indicators

5 EPA’s Report on the Environment and Sustainability The ROE uses indicators to describe trends in the nation’s environment and human health –5 areas: air, water, land, human health, ecological condition The Sustainable Outcomes and Indicators Workgroup is seeking ways to include a sustainability perspective in strategic planning –6 natural resource systems: air, water, land, ecosystems, energy, materials The two efforts are evaluating frameworks that include both ROE indicators and sustainability elements

6 Sustainability Research Strategy Advancing a systems understanding of environmental issues Developing decision-making tools and indicators for decision makers Developing new processes, materials, chemicals, products and systems Understanding environmental behavior and supporting collaborative problem-solving Anticipating and preparing for future environmental challenges and opportunities Inspiring the next generation

7 Encouraging Research and Action Collaborative Science and Technology Network for Sustainability (CNS) –Extramural funding for preventative, forward-looking, integrated environmental protection –Topic Areas: Communities and the built environment, industrial ecology and organizational P3 Award (People, Prosperity, and the Planet) –For university students to design, research, and develop a solution to a sustainability challenge –Topic Areas: Agriculture, materials and chemicals, energy, information technology, water, built environment

8 Opportunities for Collaboration Share –Data –Metadata –Models –Research results Collaborate –Identify common goals and problems –Develop frameworks and metrics –Address common problems with viable solutions

9 Concluding Thoughts The Administrator states: The “[Everyday Choices] report outlines what I believe is the next step in an ongoing evolution of policy goals from pollution control to pollution prevention and sustainability.” EPA is now implementing many sustainability activities. Research, further definition of sustainable outcomes, and collaboration are necessary.

10 For More Information Websites – – – William Sonntag Ethan McMahon