Office of Sustainability

The Office of Sustainability (OOS) is the Philadelphia city office that sets and coordinates environmental, energy and climate policy across city departments. It does not issue permits or run utilities; it develops plans, convenes agencies, applies for grants and tracks progress. Its work links closely to the Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability, the Water Department, Parks and Recreation and Philadelphia Gas Works.

1 Origins and plans

Mayor Michael Nutter established the office in 2008 and released the Greenworks Philadelphia plan in 2009, setting targets for energy, environment, equity, economy and engagement. The original Climate Action Plan was introduced in 2009 as the foundation for later strategies. Later directors included Christine Knapp, who departed in 2022; the City's leadership page lists Elizabeth Lankenau, AICP, as Director of Sustainability.^[1] The office's reporting line has shifted between administrations.

2 Climate Action Playbook

In January 2021 the city committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 and released the Climate Action Playbook, a framework to guide equitable climate action, while also hiring its first chief resilience officer.^[2] The Playbook covers cutting emissions from buildings, which are the city's largest source, transportation and waste, and preparing for heat, flooding and storms. The office publishes periodic updates on progress; one issued in June 2025 reported on implementation.^[3]

3 Programs and building rules

OOS runs or supports programs for municipal building energy efficiency, the Municipal Energy Office, building energy benchmarking and performance rules for large commercial buildings, solar and electrification incentives, and urban tree canopy goals. Implementation of building-related rules runs through L&I, which enforces the Energy Code during permitting. Changes to local law require action by City Council, and energy-sector policy is shaped by state regulators such as the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, which oversees PGW.

4 Resilience and equity

The office works with departments on heat-health response, flood mitigation and green stormwater infrastructure with the Water Department, and with Office of Emergency Management and the Department of Public Health on extreme-heat planning. Equity commitments direct investment toward neighborhoods with fewer trees, higher heat and older housing stock. See also Safe and Healthy Homes Act for housing-quality legislation that overlaps with energy and health goals.

5 Residents and criticism

Residents can find rebate and efficiency programs through the office, comment on plans in public meetings, and report conditions through Philly311. Environmental advocates have pressed for faster emission cuts and for ending reliance on gas; utility consumer advocates emphasize bill affordability. These tensions appear in the debate over PGW's future, in which coalitions have opposed rate increases while the utility says natural gas remains affordable. Progress against the 2050 target is reported by the city rather than independently audited.

See also: Streets Department, Managing Director's Office.

References

1. City of Philadelphia, Office of Sustainability, phila.gov; City of Philadelphia, "City announces departure of Sustainability Director Christine Knapp," July 7, 2022.
2. City of Philadelphia, "City commits to carbon neutrality by 2050, releases Climate Action Playbook and hires first Chief Resilience Officer," January 15, 2021.
3. City of Philadelphia Office of Sustainability, Philadelphia Climate Action Update 2025 (June 2025), phila.gov.