Founded in 1991, Sustainable Seattle is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainability in the Central Puget Sound, nationally, and internationally. We create cutting edge products, processes and leadership that propel people and communities forward in reaching sustainability - locally and globally. 

Mission
Sustainable Seattle advances an integrated vision of urban sustainability by measuring progress, building divers coalitions and undertaking key initiative.

Purpose
Sustainable Seattle's purpose is as it always has been: Contribute to achieving the goal of a sustainable future. We strive to create healthy communities, economies, and ecosystems by serving as an incubator for emerging people, projects, and ideas, as a convener of diverse citizens and practitioners, and as a catalyst for turning indicators into action.

Strategy
We accomplish our mission by  working with diverse individuals, communities, businesses, and government agencies to build awareness, assess progress, and take action on collective sustainability goals.

Definition of Sustainability
Sustainable Seattle follows the United Nation’s Brundtland Commission’s definition of sustainability as ‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to met their own needs. Our Common Future, 1987.  In practice, we seek to balance concerns for social equity, ecological integrity, and economic vitality – to create a livable community today while ensuring a healthy and fulfilling legacy for our children’s children.   Our definition of sustainability for our region is encapsulated by the sustainability indicators, goals, data and actions that are a product of participatory action research fundamental to Sustainable Seattle. You can see our forth iteration of sustainability indicators for our region by clicking here.

Core Competencies
Sustainable Seattle's core competencies are participatory action research and regional sustainability indicator development. Through the participatory action research process, Sustainable Seattle brought together community members from all facets of city life to define and research regional sustainability indicators so as to define sustainability for our region, to measure our region’s real progress, drive social change, inform policy makers to guide behavior changes that will steer our community to a more sustainable future. The indicators, goals, data and actions are intended to leverage further action, to spur creative and critical thinking, to inspire thoughtfulness around values and priorities, and to create the next iteration of sustainability indicator relevant to our region.

Core Values

Vision - Hope  - Belief  -Inspiration – Commitment

We have vision, we have hope and we believe in the ability of all of us to reach a sustainable future. We are inspired and through our inspiration inspire others. We are committed to our vision.

Social Justice - Inclusion – Freedom

Social justice is central to who we are and what we do. An inclusive mindset and actions that celebrate diversity is part of who we are.  We see our role and responsibility in realizing freedom – for us and for all.

Purpose- Change –Progress – Love

Our purpose is deeply ingrained in who we are and what we do. We are change agents for the common good and for progress. We are fundamentally motivated by love.

Fun - Personality  -Humility

Having fun is important to us. We celebrate our different personalities, but are not attached to our individuality.  We are humbled by those whose footsteps we follow, by those we work side by side with and by the awesome journey ahead. We walk in humility and love.

Collaboration- Togetherness – Synergy

Collaboration is key to us. In our organizations, our programs and our projects, we seek togetherness and opportunities for synergy with each other and with other organizations realize our dreams through synergy.

Interconnected Systems Thinking– Holistic  -Local Global

We see and feel the deeply interconnected nature of sustainability. We see the local-global connection.  As systems thinkers, we hake a holistic approach to help bring about sustainability.

Competency  - Learning – Growth

We are educated and continually learning as people and as an organization, We are, at our core, competent to do the work we set out to do. We seek for personal growth for ourselves and all  as we see this a necessary to reach a just society,  thriving economy and healthy environment.

Compassion - Concern - Care

    We have compassion for all. We are concerned for our future. We care.

Impact

In the 1990s Sustainable Seattle was at the forefront of defining sustainability with its groundbreaking work on city and regional indicators and systems thinking. The original founders of Sustainable Seattle had a clear vision of what kind of information was needed to move the city and region forward towards a more sustainable future and that it would require systems thinking and planning to act on that information. Their creativity, energy, and innovative ideas are still referenced today as a formative spark in the sustainability movement. Many cities around the world continue to look to Sustainable Seattle as a resource and mentor as they develop their own indicators and efforts toward sustainability.

Sustainable Seattle is acknowledged as a worldwide leader in sustainability indicators based on citizens’ values and goals for their communities.  Redefining Progress, surveyed over 170 sustainability projects around the country and found that over 90 of them used Sustainable Seattle as a model for their own initiatives.

In 1996, the Sustainable Seattle Indicators were recognized by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements with an “Excellence in Indicators Best Performance” Award. Sustainable Seattle has also received many other awards over our almost 20 year history. Sustainable Seattle is held to be the first "Sustainable Community" organization. Today, there are over 50 "Sustainability Community" organizations in Washington and hundreds nation wide.

Founders
Alan AtKisson          Karla Berkendall         Nea Caroll
Richard Conlin         Jan Drago                   Susan Hall
Steve Nickolas         Vicki Robin                 David Smukowski

Walking the Talk

At Sustainable Seattle, we integrate sustainability in our work, programs and lives. In 2009, we began to develop indicators to demonstrate transparency and accountability towards our mission through collaboration and social justice. To view our draft outline, please click here. We welcome your comments and feedback at info@sustainableseattle.org.

 In celebration of our 15th year anniversary, we issued our first Sustainability Report. Download Sustainable Seattle's 2006 Sustainability Report (Part 1 - Part 2).