About

The City of Coral Gables has made sustainability and resiliency a top priority and recognizes that it must be a key focus within our city’s planning, policies, and services. 

The Sustainability Division is part of the City's Parking and Mobility Services Department in Coral Gables. The division, made up of the city's sustainability team, is responsible for developing and implementing a strategic, comprehensive, long-term sustainability plan for the city. This includes identifying and implementing measures to optimize the city's energy, water, waste, fuel and greenhouse gas emissions.

The division oversees the Keep Coral Gables Beautiful program and works with residents and the business community to implement sustainability and resilience practices. It also coordinates assigned activities with other department divisions, city departments and external agencies.

Some of the city’s sustainability and resiliency accomplishments include:

• Developed a Sustainability Management Plan in 2015. 10 year plan with goals to reduce energy, water, fuel, and GHG emissions by 20% by 2025.
• Named the eighth-best city in the country for ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) investments in 2022. 
• Incorporated 70 electric vehicles (EVs) into the city fleet, approximately 12%. The city ranks near the top of the largest EV fleets in the nation.
• Installed over 56 charging points on city property with plans to add 145 charging stations and 246 charging points in areas like surface parking lots, Minorca Garage and Mobility Hub in the coming years.
• Reduced energy consumption by over 20% since 2013 through lighting and HVAC upgrades.
• Reduced water consumption in city facilities by over 22% since 2013 by installing low-flow faucets and toilets.
• Reduced Community Wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 20% since 2013.
• Achieved LEED Silver Certification for the Police and Fire Headquarters and Trolley Maintenance facilities. The city now requires all future buildings, public and private, larger than 20,000 square feet to meet LEED Silver or equivalent standards.
• Waived all permit fees for solar installations and other energy- and water-efficient projects in 2016.
• Achieved the SolSmart Silver Designation through the Solar Foundation, International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the U.S. DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office.
• Maintains an extensive tree canopy with over 41% tree coverage and has been a designated Tree City USA since 1985.
• Developed elevation maps and conducted a vulnerability assessment in 2018 examining critical infrastructure in relation to sea level rise projections, king tides and storm surge.
• Established a sea level rise mitigation fund in 2016 with a goal to set aside $100 million by 2040. Currently, over $13 million has been allocated to the fund.
• Passed a resolution in 2017 supporting the establishment of 100% clean, renewable energy in the city and across the United States.
• Joined the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact in 2016.
• Became one of 140 other communities to achieve LEED for Cities GOLD Certification in 2022.
• Joined the U.S. Climate Mayors in 2019.
• Selected as one of 22 cities in Florida to participate in the 2022 Race to Zero Competition.