| Executive Summary
The State of the States: Assessing the Capacity of States to Achieve Sustainable Development Through Green Planning provides the most comprehensive appraisal yet undertaken of individual state preparedness to implement sustainability as integral public policy. It does so through the lens of green planning, a widely applied sustainable development strategy. The report is part of Resource Renewal Institute's (RRI's) Campaign for a Sustainable Future, an education and advocacy effort aimed at ushering in a new generation of environmental achievement.
This report is divided into four sections:
I. The Imperative for State Leadership on Sustainability Includes an introductory overview of green planning, focusing on the Netherlands and New Zealand. Discusses the potential for national green planning in the U.S., limitations in progress to date, and future barriers to progress. Sets out why action at the state level is now key to advancing the sustainable development agenda.
II. A Survey of Green Plan Capacity Across the 50 States Analysis of the capacity of states to achieve sustainability through green planning, applying the multi-faceted Green Plan Capacity Index. Provides the GPC Index rankings
of states and descriptions of the individual indicators that together make up the Index. Numerous graphics included to illustrate the standing of states and the geographic distribution of indicators.
III. States on the Green Plan Path Individual profiles of three states making progress along the green plan path-regon, New Jersey, and Minnesota.
IV. Guiding States Along the Green Plan Path Provides a summary of the essential elements of a sustainable state and a guiding set of actions and examples for states wishing to embark on the green plan path. | 