ABSTRACT
Public organizations are increasingly encouraged to also develop a sustainability strategy along with their operational and strategic plans. This chapter looks at the need for sustainability planning and some of the development processes. The sustainability plan includes three components or tools: a self-assessment, development of a strategy for accomplishing goals and rectifying problems, and an action plan for how to accomplish its sustainability goals. A recent definition of a sustainability strategy describes the concept thus: “Sustainability is often likened to democracy, in that it is not a problem to be solved, but a challenge that requires constant innovation, commitment, vigilance, and learning. Thus, it is not another thing to do, or another box to be checked. It asks us to discern our contribution to this challenge of our time, delivered in the context of our passion and purposes. When sustainability is understood and “owned” at the unit level, and when it is strongly linked to the unit’s mission and unique expertise, innovation takes place.”
