Sustainable Cleveland 2019': Together, We're Building a Thriving Green City on a Blue Lake Day One: Year of Clean Water

Mayor Frank G. Jackson and Chief of Sustainability Jenita McGowan welcomed approximately 500 local business and non-profit leaders, government officials, community members, students and educators to the seventh annual Sustainable Cleveland 2019 Summit held at the Cleveland Public Auditorium. This year’s keynote speaker for day-one of the two-day event was Dr. Marcus Eriksen, Director of Research and Co-Founder, 5 Gyres Institute.

Mayor Jackson began Sustainable Cleveland 2019 (SC2019) in 2009 as a way to involve the entire community in developing and implementing a 10-year economic development strategy and to transform the local economy into a sustainable one by 2019. The annual summit provides a venue to update the community on key local and regional accomplishments and the progress of current initiatives, as well as influence public policy to support the growth of a sustainable economy in Cleveland.

This year’s keynote speaker for day-one of the two-day event was Dr. Marcus Eriksen, Director of Research and Co-Founder, 5 Gyres Institute. Day one of the summit focused efforts on the Year of Clean Water to connect people to their water resources in order to restore, conserve and protect this valuable asset. Fresh water resources represent an invaluable local asset that has shaped Cleveland’s identity, both in the way that the city has perceived itself and how it has been recognized outside the region.

In collaboration with the City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, the Cleveland Water Alliance facilitated the 2015 Year of Clean Water Working Group as part of Sustainable Cleveland 2019. This working group elevated the conversation around clean and abundant freshwater as a regional asset, forging collaborations among partners to collectively implement water education and outreach projects, and promoting the multitude of watershed and water-related organizations, programs, and events throughout Northeast Ohio.

Cleveland’s Sustainable Summits build relationships with like-minded sustainable individuals and organizations and offer suggestions and feedback on the work that can be done surrounding sustainability that will create economic growth and foster job creation as well as that are good for the people and the planet.

The Cleveland’s Sustainable Summits engages people from all walks of life, working together to design and develop a thriving and resilient Cleveland region. This Summit was a great opportunity for local business and non-profit leaders, government officials, students, community members and educators to work together to advance the projects and policies that will support the creation of a more sustainable and thriving economy.