Interview with Mr Sam Adams, Former Mayor of Portland, Oregon, USA By: Inger Jägerhorn Q: What was it that caused you to embark on a program for sustainability in the first place? A: It was a team effort. As Mayor, with Council approval, and significant community and staff input, I led the creation of the Portland Plan www.pdxplan.com and the merger of the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Office of Sustainable Development to create the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. I wanted a cutting-‐edge, integrated and accountable climate action strategy to infuse and underpin these larger initiatives. Our goal was not only climate action but also job creation with the parallel creation of an economic development strategy: http://www.pdxeconomicdevelopment.com/cluster-‐ cleantech.html. For example, as part of the Climate Action Plan goals related to ‘Urban Form and Mobility,’ we helped create a new clean tech industry with United Streetcar: http://unitedstreetcar.com/ Q: How much did you personally participate in launching and realizing this plan? A: This is an issue of personal passion. It was involvement and input at each step. I led many of the public meetings as part of the project and gave edits and final approval of the draft that went to the Portland City Council for approval. Q:. Even if the approach of the Plan is a very broad one, did you primarily give special attention to some sectors to get the process started and achieve results? Or to put it in a simple way: where did you start? A: The Climate Action Plan and merging the planning and sustainability went hand-‐in-‐hand: To further change the way we planned our work and did it. We moved away from sustainability being a separate program and closer to sustainability being the way we do business everyday. We did give special attention to sectors that needed a push: For example, we started Clean Energy Works http://www.cleanenergyworksoregon.org/ to fill a gap in available financing for residential clean energy upgrades. We implemented a weekly curbside composting pick program check bags http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/07/portland_adopts_ban_on_plastic.ht ml Global Utmaning är en fristående tankesmedja. Vi är ett kvalificerat nätverk från samhälle, näringsliv och forskning som verkar för lösningar på de globala utmaningar som rör ekonomi, miljö och demokrati. Birger Jarlsgatan 27 ·∙ 111 45 Stockholm ·∙ 08-‐787 2150 ·∙ info@globalutmaning.se ·∙
www.globalutmaning.se
because city government had complete control over those issues. Q: What role has the civil service and public administration played in this work? A: A key role. The City of Portland has the most talented local government planning and sustainability bureau staff. My staff and I worked in close partnership with them. Q: Was there a political unity in Portland? A: Not always. We had to work hard most every step of the way. Examples: Curbside composting program: three years; plastic bag ban: four years. Q: Was central government helpful? Has the plan met restrictions from regulations and decisions on a federal level (i.e. building codes, tax credit systems, up-‐front financing)? A: President Obama’s administration was very helpful. For example, the federal stimulus initiative provided the seed fund for the Clean Energy Works Oregon. However, the lack of the U.S. federal energy policy is a HUGE challenge to local climate action efforts. Q: What role has the civic society played? A: Surfrider, Bicycle Transportation Alliance and Audobon were examples of key NGO supporters: but our initial efforts also exposed the need for more NGOs advocates focused on Buildings and Energy, Consumption and Solid Waste and Food and Agriculture. Q: In a project like this, many parties are involved and affected – commercial interests, lobby groups, political parties. Where did you find the best supporters for the plan? Who were the hardest opponents and which were their arguments? A: The supporter and opponents got/get most activated when elements of the Plan move forward incrementally for implementation. For example, banning plastic bags locally produced initial opposition from the grocery industry. Q: There is said to be “tipping points” in climate change. Have you noticed a tipping point also in the public’s acceptance of the plan? Can you identify some reasons why this happened? A: Having a Plan and plan metrics allows us to explain how individual changes fit into the bigger picture of climate action efforts. I believe this produced a high level of public support. Global Utmaning är en fristående tankesmedja. Vi är ett kvalificerat nätverk från samhälle, näringsliv och forskning som verkar för lösningar på de globala utmaningar som rör ekonomi, miljö och demokrati. Birger Jarlsgatan 27 ·∙ 111 45 Stockholm ·∙ 08-‐787 2150 ·∙ info@globalutmaning.se ·∙
www.globalutmaning.se
Q: How closely has success been linked to the general economic outlook (i.e. financial crises) and has it affected your work? A: The national recession made our work very difficult. I delayed some actions BUT I would not let it stop forward progress. Q: Are you satisfied with the result so far? A: So far so good but I believe we can do even better. Q: The first status report was released in 2010. Has there been any new evaluation since then? Has the original plan been changed or improved? A: Check in and revisions are due in 2014. Q: Which are in your opinion the best means of promoting sustainability, both at national and local level? A: Make the localized factual case for why sustainability is the smart way to do business or lead a life. Q: How do you define good leadership? A: Do your homework. Ask your colleagues and constituents for the input early. Surround yourself with a great team. Create an inspiring plan. Build metrics. Try big change out on a smaller scale. Ask for feedback. Continuously improve. Repeat. Q: What advice would you give to other mayors concerning leadership? See my answer to the question above! Q: What is your advice to other cities to achieve a good result in city planning? What capacities and institutions are needed? A: In addition to deep citizens involvement, a good result in planning requires the actual planning include those groups who need to help implement it: academia; government; labour; non-‐profits and business.
Global Utmaning är en fristående tankesmedja. Vi är ett kvalificerat nätverk från samhälle, näringsliv och forskning som verkar för lösningar på de globala utmaningar som rör ekonomi, miljö och demokrati. Birger Jarlsgatan 27 ·∙ 111 45 Stockholm ·∙ 08-‐787 2150 ·∙ info@globalutmaning.se ·∙
www.globalutmaning.se