Sustain Charlotte is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, engaging and uniting citizens to solve Charlotte’s sustainability challenges. We inspire choices that lead to a healthy, equitable and vibrant community for generations to come. LEARN MORE
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The Good, the Bad, the Possibilities: Local Transportation
Today we're launching a new 8-part series of weekly blog posts called "The Good, the Bad, the Possibilities". For this series, we are asking local experts three questions to give you a quick overview of recent local trends and solutions, with respect to a range of important issues that affect our community's sustainability. Our first topic is transportation, and our two featured experts are Ron Tober and Dan Gallagher.Continue reading -
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CATS plans to straighten out meandering bus routes this fall
If you've avoided riding the bus to work because your travel time would be too long, relief is on the way! On October 1, the second phase of CATS' Envision My Ride initiative will bring major changes to numerous bus routes to speed up your trip. By removing the numerous meanders that routes take into neighborhoods and instead keeping them traveling along major streets, CATS's updated routes will allow many of its riders on the most popular routes to travel between more quickly. CATS is proposing changes to almost 20 bus routes this fall including 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 16, 20, 21, 25, 30, 34, 45x, 60x, 61x, 62x, & 235. CATS staff discuss proposed bus route changes with residents during public meetings.Continue reading -
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How energy and growth are impacting climate change + what you can do
In a discussion of sustainability, climate change is the elephant in the room. That’s why our July Grow Smart CLT panel discussion was all about energy and climate change. Over 100 people filled the brew room at Three Spirits Brewery for the panel discussion, where our three panelists shared their perspective of potential solutions to our energy and climate challenges in the Greater Charlotte region, as well as their take-home advice for how attendees can make a difference on this issue. Here’s what they had to say.Continue reading -
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“Envisioning” Safe, Sustainable Growth
On Thursday, July 5th, Sustain Charlotte had the privilege to work with the smart, driven Scholars of the CMPD Envision Academy. The Academy, designed by Chief Putney, engages the Scholars in meaningful work experience and provides them with both CMPD mentors and a generous scholarship. These young people are hardworking, perceptive, and very invested in public service. All of us at Sustain Charlotte truly enjoyed our time with them! Upon arriving at the office, the Scholars were met by Shook Kelley’s Michael Dunning, who gave a presentation about urban planning and architecture in Charlotte. They also learned about the history of South End and the changes that have been made since the area was founded. The Scholars asked a variety of questions about the work of architects and some of their current projects. Then, some of the Sustain Charlotte staff talked about our impact on the community and how we’re working to make Charlotte more sustainable. We fielded the Scholars’ questions about how the city balances existing sustainable resources with new projects and plans for growth. This experience illuminated how sustainability can play a role in people’s day to day work.Continue reading -
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Victory: Charlotte City Council Unanimously Passes Resolution for a “Sustainable and Resilient” Charlotte
On June 25th, the Charlotte City Council unanimously passed the resolution for a “Sustainable and Resilient” Charlotte. This is a comprehensive resolution that calls for the city government to source 100% of its energy used in its own buildings and fleet from zero-carbon sources by 2030. It also creates an action plan for dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors by 2050. With this move, Charlotte has taken a major step in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and significantly increase the quality of life for residents by investing in our air quality and growing our economy with green jobs.Continue reading -
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How the City of Charlotte Plans to Calm Traffic in School Zones and Neighborhoods
The Charlotte City Council’s Transportation and Planning Committee Meeting on Monday, June 25th focused on staff updates to current objectives listed in the Transportation Action Plan (TAP) and the Charlotte WALKS Plan. Both plans steer the City’s transportation policy choices. They were adopted by City Council last spring. Photo credit: CDOTContinue reading -
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Here’s the latest on the planned Uptown protected bike lane
It’s time for an Uptown protected bike lane update! In 2015, Sustain Charlotte started the #ibikeclt petition, a campaign to ask City Council to commit to supporting completion of Charlotte’s first protected bicycle lane connecting the Little Sugar Creek and Irwin Creek Greenways through the heart of Uptown. Because of your continued support and involvement, the project is moving forward. But, where are we? What happens next? Keep reading to see what you can do as this project moves toward construction! Charlotte Department of Transportation’s renderings showing what the Uptown protected bike lane could like.Continue reading