Community Resources

Pittsburgh Sustainability

The University of Pittsburgh embraces its role and responsibility as a member of the larger Pittsburgh community in helping the region to create a sustainable future for all residents. From collaborating with the City of Pittsburgh to partnerships with local nonprofits- Pitt is dedicated to growing our city into a sustainable haven for everyone.

City of Pittsburgh Initiatives

City Sustainability Division

The City of Pittsburgh's Sustainability Division champions preventative resilience strategies in partner operations in order to mitigate stressors facing the City, and advises City officials, departments and partners to enable an enduring and adaptable city through holistic decision making.

View the City's plans and resources

Climate Action Plan

Climate Action Plan 3.0 lays out strategies through which Pittsburgh can reduce greenhouse gas emissions within city limits and within City operations. This will lessen Pittsburgh’s contribution to global climate change.

Explore the City's Climate Action Plan

Resilient Pittsburgh

In 2014, the City of Pittsburgh joined the 100 Resilient Cities Network, powered by the Rockefeller Foundation, and with the support of the RAND Corporation, has since engaged with more than 2,000 Pittsburghers to understand the City's resilience challenges and develop analyses, reports and actions to address them.

Learn more about Pittsburgh's Resiliency

Greater Pittsburgh Region Initiatives

Sustainable Pittsburgh

Sustainable Pittsburgh is a local group that encourages peer-to-peer learning and knowledge-sharing among decision makers in the business and municipal sectors across Western Pennsylvania.

Sustainable Pittsburgh

Green Building Alliance

Positively transforming the world through the built environment to address climate change, advance human health, achieve social equity, and create thriving economies

Green Building Alliance

Pittsburgh 2030 District

Pittsburgh 2030 District – Over 500 local buildings striving towards 50% reductions in energy use, water consumption, and transportation emissions by 2030, while improving indoor air quality.

Pittsburgh 2030

Higher Education Climate Consortium

Pitt is a proud member of the Higher Education Climate Consortium (HECC), a dedicated group of Pittsburgh’s colleges and universities actively collaborate together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to help Pittsburgh reach carbon neutrality.

Learn more about HECC

Explore Pittsburgh

Parks in the 'Burgh

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy manages nearly 2,000 acres of parks through out the City in addition to providing educational programs and community events year-round.

Crowned "Oakland's Green Oasis", Schenley Plaza is nestled between the Cathedral of Learning, Carnegie Library, and the Frick Fine Arts Building. Formerly a parking lot, the space was transformed into a community green space packed with native gardens, dining kiosks, and a historic carousel.

Explore Pittsburgh's Parks

cyclist on the road passing the Cathedral of Learning

Explore Pittsburgh

Biking in the Steel City

Pittsburgh's ever expanding bicycle infrastructure means it is easier than ever to utilize bikes for travel and fun. Explore the over 117 miles of bike routes across the city and additional cycling resources from Bike PGH!

Don't have your own bike? No problem! POGOH, Pittsburgh's bike share program, has stations across the city with petal and electric bike options.

Glass Greenhouse of Phipps Conservancy with tulips in bloom

Explore Pittsburgh

Green buildings

The Phipps Botanical Gardens & Conservatory is famous for its historic greenhouses and beautiful gardens. Its Center for Sustainable Landscapes is also one of the greenest buildings in the world, implementing water capture reuse and generating all its own electricity.

Many other favorite attractions across the city boast sustainable innovations that have earned them LEED status including, Heinz History Center, Children's Museum, and David L. Lawrence Convention Center.