Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment.  To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations.

- United States Environmental Protection Agency

The City is committed to educating the public and community stakeholders on sustainable best practices through outreach, networking, programming, and an ever-evolving collection of resources for residents, neighborhoods, and businesses.  The Sustainability Division also works with City departments and leadership to encourage policy development and reform.

Per Broken Arrow Next, the City's Comprehensive Plan, we are exploring opportunities to improve existing plans and policies to better reflect the community's sustainability goals.  These goals include, but are not limited to:

1. Manage growth in a sustainable manner to preserve and enhance community character;
2. Create a connected, balanced, and sustainable multi-modal transportation system that is safe and efficient;
3. Incorporate sustainable practices in the maintenance and development of community infrastructure;
4. Promote green building practices and low impact development for improved infrastructure and utility efficiencies;
5. Enact policies and actions that provide reassurance to the city's residents that it is prepared for major weather and economic events that can occur with little or no warning;
6. Encourage the development of tornado safe neighborhoods with safe rooms; And
7. Develop and modernize city facilities with sustainable and energy efficient materials, as financially feasible;