Urban-serving universities role in building green, healthy, equitable cities

Global Health Practitioner Conference May 19, 2016

Jonathan Fink Vice President for Research and Strategic Partnerships

Portland State University

Takeaways Portland historically polluted and intolerant Public policy and citizen engagement greened the city Urban-serving university ideal partner for city Wide range of university-city sustainability collaborations Parallels between sustainability and global health goals

We Build Green Cities

https://vimeo.com/31402984

Urban Growth Boundary established in 1970s

Basis for todays environmental consciousness in Portland

Federal freeway funds moved to transit

First time in U.S.

1st Climate Action Plan launched in early 1990s

2013 Greenhouse gas: 14% below 1990 levels

2050 Goal: 80% Reduction

No city yet knows how to get to 80 by 50 goal

Portland State University (PSU) Oregons Urban-Serving University

Student body: 1st Generation, diverse, professional

Research: Applied, partnership-focused, targeted

Partners: OHSU (Medical School), Portland, Intel

Motto: Let Knowledge Serve the City

How can cities and universities jointly advance climate goals?

1. Portland Climate Action Collaborative 2. Urban Sustainability Accelerator 3. Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative 4. First Stop Portland 5. US DOTs Smart City Challenge

City and University set and fund a joint agenda

1. Portland Climate Action Collaborative

Two foundations gave PSU and City $300K to study: Heat island mapping Ecosystem services Localized air quality Regional food systems Climate action economics

2. Urban Sustainability Accelerator Program Reps of smaller cities come to Portland and PSU Multi-sector teams address 2-3 key problems Create growing, durable, theme-based network Funded by foundations and cities

Wichita

Waco

Louisville

Portland

Elk Grove Rancho Cordova

Sacramento County

El Paso Las Cruces Auburn

Duluth

3. Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative

PSU research projects

Focus PSU-Portland projects in four areas

5. U.S. D.O.T. Smart City Challenge Can tech help cities meet equity & climate goals? $40M federal plus $10M from Paul Allens Vulcan Portland one of seven finalists (due 5/24/16) PSU provides Portland with research clout

Universities, cities, and climate: Challenges

City officials dont expect academics to be helpful Cities and universities both tend to be parochial Faculty dont always get credit for applied problems No lobby owns urban sustainability research agenda Grant funding for urban problems has been lacking

Universities, cities, and climate: Opportunities

Universities can provide labor, ideas, funding City can provide applied problems Students want practical experience University campuses can be climate laboratories Universities well-networked U.S. federal agencies now funding urban projects

Slide Number 1Slide Number 2Slide Number 3Slide Number 4Slide Number 5Slide Number 6Slide Number 7Slide Number 8Portland State University (PSU)Oregons Urban-Serving UniversityHow can cities and universities jointly advance climate goals?1. Portland Climate Action Collaborative2. Urban Sustainability Accelerator Program3. Sustainable Neighborhoods InitiativeFocus PSU-Portland projects in four areas5. U.S. D.O.T. Smart City ChallengeUniversities, cities, and climate:ChallengesUniversities, cities, and climate:Opportunities