APRIL 20248GOVERNMENT CIO OUTLOOKIN MYOPINIONAlicia Brown, Acting Director of Sustainability, City of SavannahBySUSTAINABILITY AS A CRITICAL SERVICEor six months every year, my city of Savannah, Georgia, thinks deeply about what it means for something to be a critical service. Those six months, the Atlantic hurricane season, are filled with preparation and consequential decisions about which staff must stay and which are allowed to go inland to safety. In this context, "critical services" are those that cannot be postponed for long without severe harm, like treating drinking water, managing wastewater, clearing roads, and providing emergency services. In the case of a hurricane, critical services are those that must be available immediately, even under poor conditions. However, there are many other contexts where it would be a mistake to make "critical" synonymous with "emergency." Rather, critical services are any services that play a decisive role in an outcome, whether positive or negative.In my three years in local government, I have noticed a concerning trend. Our collective bias is toward the exigent in both the daily rhythm of activity and in longer-term planning cycles. We observe and acknowledge long-term "stressors" like poverty and inequity and hazards like rising seas and urban heat, but we rarely feel inclined to mount a significant offensive against these threats. Instead, we focus on the needs that are immediate and tangible--the potholes and the trash pickup that is periodically delayed--or, on the other end of the spectrum, the investments that are most suitable for a ribbon cutting.To be clear, potholes must be filled, and trash must be collected. There are substantial benefits to shiny new playgrounds and attractive streetscapes. However, these amenities are no substitute for the far less tangible hallmarks of a good place to live, like a sense of safety; social, physical, and digital connectivity; a healthy environment; affordable, quality housing; and pathways to prosperity. Local government sustainability departments have a critical role in realizing the vision for a thriving community. Far too often, "sustainability" is associated exclusively with the environment, conjuring thoughts of recycling and electric vehicles divorced from any human impact. Yet, in its simplest form, sustainability means the ability to continue. When we think of this in the context of our communities, sustainability means confronting the long-term stressors that will eventually lead to instability and investing in solutions that preserve the things we care about, including our local culture, vibrant neighborhoods, community institutions, and the natural environment.Sustainability Departments often have a far broader mandate than their peers in local government. Here in Savannah, our department has a mission to support safe, healthy, and thriving communities, as defined by the residents we serve. As a result, our work can span from reducing energy burdens to prioritizing healthy food access, supporting small businesses, and protecting green spaces. This broad and long-term vision places us in the unique FAlicia Brown
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