ISS - Climate Action Collaborative

The Portland Climate Action Collaborative was launched in 2014. ISS matched university assets and resources with the City's needs to advance actions in the Portland Climate Action Plan. This partnership emphasized the co-creation and collaboration between City staff and PSU faculty and students in the design and implementation of projects--moving beyond a consulting relationship. ISS served as a convener and steward, facilitating the work and connections needed for a successful collaboration.

The collaborative covered a wide range of topics, including urban heat islands and air quality, ecosystem services, local food economy, community mapping, economic and equity analysis of greenways, and Willamette River flooding.

The Portland Climate Action Collaborative influenced many different programs and policies, including:

• Research related to urban heat islands led by PSU professor Dr. Vivek Shandas can be found in the Portland Climate Action Plan and Portland's Better by Design Multifamily Code project
• A research project between BPS Construction Manager Shawn Wood and economists from PSU's Northwest Economic Research Center influenced the City's Deconstruction Policy, which protects environmental health and encourages reuse by requiring older homes to be deconstructed rather than demolished
• PSU professor Dr. Elliot Gall supported the Portland Housing Bureau in development of the Affordable Housing Green Building Policy
• Faculty from multiple departments have helped the City of Portland develop the Central City Green Loop, a linear park, biking, and walking trail
• Students and faculty worked with BPS staff and community members to design community-centered wayfinding in the Cully neighborhood
• Students worked with BPS to develop The City of Portland’s Sustainable Food Procurement policy

Contact isspsu@pdx.edu with questions about the Climate Action Collaborative