Release: City's Office of Sustainability Publishes Third Annual Thrive Report

Metrics and data from Indy's sustainability and resilience action plan updated to mark Earth Day 2023
 


INDIANAPOLIS –  Today, the Indianapolis Office of Sustainability released its third annual report on metrics outlined in Thrive Indianapolis ("Thrive"), the first sustainability and resilience action plan in the city's history. Reporting on the previous year’s accomplishments, and published to coincide with Earth Day, the 2022 Thrive Annual Report is available to read here.

"Since the original Thrive plan was unveiled, we've made incredible progress," said Mayor Joe Hogsett. "And while this report demonstrates improvement, we must still maintain our commitment if we are to realize a clean, healthy, livable future for generations to come. Central Indiana is not immune to the effects of the climate crisis, and this progress report can help shape solutions."

The original 59 action items, nine of which have been achieved to date, are measured by 27 annually reported output metrics. These output metrics include:

  • Number of certified green buildings in Marion County

  • Number of publicly available electric vehicle charging stations

  • Number of youth participating in summer and after school recreational programs

  • Percent of residents with health insurance

  • Miles of bike lanes

  • Number of electric vehicles registered in Indianapolis

  • Total tons of material recycled

The 2022 Thrive Annual Report also includes highlights on various community programs and projects that demonstrate collective progress toward sustainability and resiliency under the eight Thrive elements: Built Environment, Economy, Energy, Food & Agriculture, Natural Resources, Public Health & Safety, Transportation & Land Use, and Waste & Recycling. These additional highlights include:

  • Launch of the City's benchmarking program, Thriving Buildings

  • Formalization of a citywide science-based target for carbon reduction goals​​​​​​

  • Realization of the transit-oriented development ordinance

  • EmployIndy's Good Wages Initiative

  • The City's active engagement on AES Indiana's Integrated Resource Plan

  • The City's Complete Streets policy and historic infrastructure investment from Circle City Forward initiative

  • Other stories on ecological management of parks properties, ​electric vehicle education, and statewide school garden expansion

Indianapolis community members and organizations interested in collaborating or forming partnerships that will contribute to a stronger, more resilient city are invited to email sustainindy@indy.gov to discuss opportunities.

Additional updates on Thrive and related partnerships (including energy benchmarking program Thriving Buildings, local air quality initiative Knozone, and electric vehicle education campaign Highly EVolved) can be found by following the Office of Sustainability on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube or by visiting sustain.indy.gov; thriveindianapolis.com;  knozone.com; and behighlyevolved.com.
 
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Lindsay Trameri