- Portland historically had pollution and intolerance problems but public policy and citizen engagement have made it more sustainable. - Portland State University partners with the city of Portland on sustainability initiatives due to their aligned goals and roles as an urban-serving university. - Examples of collaborations include studying climate impacts, hosting workshops for other cities, and focusing research projects in neighborhoods to advance climate and equity goals. This partnership positions Portland well to compete for federal funding like the Smart City Challenge.

1. Urban-serving universities’ role in
building green, healthy, equitable cities
Global Health Practitioner Conference
May 19, 2016
Jonathan Fink
Vice President for Research and Strategic Partnerships
Portland State University

2. Takeaways
• Portland historically polluted and intolerant
• Public policy and citizen engagement “greened” the city
• Urban-serving university ideal partner for city
• Wide range of university-city sustainability collaborations
• Parallels between sustainability and global health goals

3. We Build Green Cities
• https://vimeo.com/31402984

4. Urban Growth Boundary established in 1970s
Basis for today’s environmental consciousness in Portland

5. Federal freeway funds moved to transit
First time in U.S.

6. 1st Climate Action Plan launched in early 1990s

7. 2013 Greenhouse gas: 14% below 1990 levels

8. 2050 Goal: 80% Reduction
No city yet knows how to get to “80 by 50” goal

9. Portland State University (PSU)
Oregon’s Urban-Serving University
Student body: 1st Generation, diverse, professional
Research: Applied, partnership-focused, targeted
Partners: OHSU (Medical School), Portland, Intel
Motto: “Let Knowledge Serve the City”

10. How can cities and universities
jointly advance climate goals?
1. Portland Climate Action Collaborative
2. Urban Sustainability Accelerator
3. Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative
4. First Stop Portland
5. US DOT’s Smart City Challenge
City and University set and fund a joint agenda

11. 1. Portland Climate Action Collaborative
Two foundations gave PSU and City
$300K to study:
• Heat island mapping
• Ecosystem services
• Localized air quality
• Regional food systems
• Climate action economics

12. 2. Urban Sustainability Accelerator Program
• Reps of smaller cities come to Portland and PSU
• Multi-sector teams address 2-3 key problems
• Create growing, durable, theme-based network
• Funded by foundations and cities
Wichita
Waco
Louisville
Portland
Elk Grove
Rancho Cordova
Sacramento County
El Paso
Las Cruces
Auburn
Duluth

13. 3. Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative
PSU research
projects

14. Focus PSU-Portland projects in four areas

15. 5. U.S. D.O.T. “Smart City Challenge”
• Can tech help cities meet equity & climate goals?
• $40M federal plus $10M from Paul Allen’s Vulcan
• Portland one of seven finalists (due 5/24/16)
• PSU provides Portland with research clout

16. Universities, cities, and climate:
Challenges
• City officials don’t expect academics to be helpful
• Cities and universities both tend to be parochial
• Faculty don’t always get “credit” for applied problems
• No lobby “owns” urban sustainability research agenda
• Grant funding for urban problems has been lacking

17. Universities, cities, and climate:
Opportunities
• Universities can provide labor, ideas, funding
• City can provide applied problems
• Students want practical experience
• University campuses can be climate laboratories
• Universities well-networked
• U.S. federal agencies now funding urban projects