The Oregon Sustainability Board (OSB) was created in 2001, and encourages activities that best sustain, protect and enhance the environment, economy and community for the present and future benefit of Oregonians. The Governor appoints OSB members who represent a variety of stakeholders with the State of Oregon.
The Legislatuare adopted the Oregon Sustainability Act (ORS 184.421-435), which established the state's overall sustainability policy. The legislation created the OSB and established legislative goals for state government around sustainability. A January 2013 memo from the Office of the Governor directed the OSB to oversee agency implementation of sustainability related executive orders and identify areas of joint interest and action with the Oregon Small Business Advisory COuncil and Environmental Justice Task Force.
The Board, which meets quarterly, is actively involved in the oversight of agency sustainability plans and initiatives, as well as statewide projects working to enhance the environment, economy and community.
Agency Sustainability plan oversight
Agencies that have recently completed or updated their sustainability plans, periodically report on their progress to the OSB.
In parellel to planning efforts, the OSB has been working to develop a common set of core sustainability metrics on which agencies can report for comparison and aggregation.
Agency reporting metrics (draft) Public Meetings of the Oregon Sustainability Board (OSB) are held quarterly at various locations throughout the state. All meeting dates, times and locations are subject to change, and additional meetings may be added at the call of the Chair.
Next pubic meeting: Thursday and Friday, August 16-17, 2018, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 1044 NW Bond Street, Bend, Oregon.
Free Parking is available at this location, adjacent to the building.
Public Comment
Meeting agendas include time for public comment. If you would like to address the Board, please view guidelines for public comment.
Alternate formal request
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the board will provide PDF documents on this page in an alternate format upon request. Please contact David Wortman at david.wortman@oregon.gov.
Members
The Oregon Sustainabiity Board consists of the Governor or the Governor's representative and 10 additional members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Members represent a diverse range of fields, including: business; small business; natural resources, community health or economics; sustainability; and conservation of natural resources. The term of office of each member is four years.
Membership roster
2018 board meetings
April 20, 2018 Agenda
January 26, 2018
Email updates
Board meeting archives
2017 Meetings
October 5-6, 2017
May 5, 2017
March 3, 2017
2016 Meetings
05-13-2016
Every product has an environmental "footprint" - the resources used and pollutants released over the life of the product including supply chain, production, use and management of end-of-life. "Carbon footprint" is the most common type of footprint, but businesses are exploring other types of footprints as well, addressing issues such as the water used to make products, or the toxic chemicals released over their life.
The OSB has collorated with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) the State of Washington, and an advisory group of stakeholders from across Oregon and Washington on a project to evaluate the potential benefits and challenges inherent in product-level envirnmental footprinting. Three projects have come out of this collaboration: Case studies, Food, and Concrete.
Case Studies
Businesses use product environmental footprinting to assess environmental conditions, identiry opportunities for improvement, uncover business potential, and communicate with customers. Case studies include:
Food
The food footprint documents are now posted on the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality website. These studies summarize existing product footprinting literature regarding the environmental impacts of a variety of foods - some of which are produced in Oregon and others not produced here but consumed in significant qualtities in Oregon. This information may be helpful to producers and purchasers working to reduce environmental impacts of foods. To understand the context and parameters of this project, begin your exploration with the project Forward.
Here are several food study reports for tomatoes, wine, port, land-based acquaculture, beer, coffee and citrus fruits and juices. You will also find reports on transportatin as well as packaging and wasted food.
Sign up for email updates on category-level product environmental footprinting of foods.
Concrete
In partnership with the Oregon Concrete and Aggregate Producers Association, DEQ is making available to all concrete producers in Oregon, a tool that allows them to calculate the carbon footprint of each of their different concrete mixes. The State of Oregon is also providing support for verifying these calculations so that they can be shared with customers in a format called an "environmental product declaration."
In late 2017, the OSB, in collaboration with DAS and the Governor's office, completed a survey of state agency leadership on the topic of sustainability. The survey's aim was to evaluate agency leadership's levels of knowledge and support, priorities, perceived challenges, and needs with respect to sustainability. Over 330 agency leaders and senior staff members responded, and they indicated strong support for sustainability in their responses.
Phase 1 Survey Results
The OSB is overseeing an effort to survey state employes about their understanding and support for sustainability - and what knowledge, support, and training can be provided to further sustainability across the enterprise. Phase 1 of the survey was administered to agency leadership in late 2017. Phase 2 will be administered to a random sample of agency staff in Spring 2018. The Governor's Sustainability awards program is intended to promote and advance the inclusion of sustainable practices in government and the private sector. Sustainable practices are broadly defined as those that strive to optimize an organization's financial, environmental and social performance. |
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