Building Sustainable Communities through Action and Equity

As planners, it is our responsibility to serve each and every member of our communities equitably and treat all persons with human dignity and respect. This is an essential element of truly sustainable communities. It is particularly important for us to advocate for those who do not have a voice or are otherwise unable to participate in the process of community building—one that is equitable for all.

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PLANNING?

Sustainable Community Planning is a dynamic process by which public, private, and community based stakeholders plan to meet the needs of current and future generations. It does so in a manner that meets economic, environmental and social needs as mutually supportive outcomes; reflects the community’s unique history and assets; and evolves as the character of the community changes, priorities shift, and new challenges and aspirations are defined.

WHAT DO WE DO?

  1. SHOWCASE REAL SUSTAINABILITY
    Sustainability practice and sustainability concepts are constantly evolving—and they go far beyond New Urbanism and Smart Growth. We want to be a forum for planners to talk about how they are addressing sustainability challenges in their own communities across disciplines and political boundaries. We want to showcase those communities and those leaders who are at the leading edge of sustainability.

  2. ADVOCATE WITHIN APA
    We are the only APA member group focused solely on sustainability issues. We want to be the voice within APA for planners (whether current or prospective APA members) who are interested in sustainability issues. We want the APA to put sustainability issues at the forefront of its agenda, working with other organizations, community leaders, and the business community to advance the cause of sustainability.

  3. COMMUNICATE
    We will engage planners across the country in the ongoing conversation about what “sustainability” in planning really means, and establish and maintain in people’s minds what “sustainable community planning” is and is not. We will work to develop new ways of communicating with our members and others, to provide access to resources, to communicate with each other, and to coordinate with organizations outside of APA’s structure. We’ll work with APA staff, APA Chapters, and other APA Divisions to promote our message.

WHY HAVE WE FORMED?

We think planners should be leading the charge for sustainability. And we think the APA and its members—from city halls to the halls of Congress—should be pushing a serious and far-reaching sustainability agenda. Planning for sustainability is the defining challenge of the 21st century. Individual planners, firms, nonprofits, and agencies across the country are using the principles of sustainability to address emerging issues such as climate change and food security, and also as a new lens through which to view perennial challenges such as water management, housing equity, and environmental justice.

PRIORITY OBJECTIVES

PEOPLE

  • Actively engage and empower our membership

  • Increase and diversify our volunteer base

  • Mentor students and emerging professionals to create new leaders

EDUCATION

  • Build on, expand and diversify SCD’s educational offerings

  • Spur action by providing relevant content to address timely issues

  • Maximize the channels through which we communicate

LEADERSHIP

  • Elevate our resilience and climate action leadership

  • Interweave equity into all programs and initiatives

PARTNERSHIP

  • Foster partnerships with outside organizations and other divisions to amplify outreach and influence

Ready to support our objectives?

E-mail SCD! 
The Sustainable Communities Division provides resources, information, and best practices to support planners in creating sustainable, resilient, and equitable communities. Through its forums for dialogue, collaboration, advocacy and professional development, the SCD engages planners in innovatively addressing the evolving ecological, social, and economic factors that shape our communities.
Join Us!

Division Operations

MEMBER SURVEYS

  • 2025 SCD Member Survey: Coming Soon!

MEETINGS

Next Annual Business Meeting:
September 26, 2025

Most Recent Adopted Work Plan:
2023-2024 Work Plan

BYLAWS

Bylaws update underway!
Bylaws, May 2020