Publications

The Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Communities' publications contain valuable information and inspiring stories to lead readers along the path to Bay Area sustainability.

• Compact for a Sustainable Bay Area
• Regional Livability Footprint/Smart Growth Strategy
• Sustainable Indicators
• Faces of Sustainability - case studies

Compact for a Sustainable Bay Area

The purpose of the Compact for a Sustainable Bay Area is to inform regional and local planning and decision-making, guide the actions of government, employers, civic organizations and individuals and motivate cooperative efforts that will lead to a more sustainable region. The Compact identifies key regional challenges and presents a package of ten strategic commitments to meet those challenges in order to put the Bay Area on a more sustainable path. The Compact is a commitment made by member organizations to take specific steps over the next quarter century. Click here to view Compact for a Sustainable Bay Area.

The Ten Commitments to Action, which forms the centerpiece of the Compact, contains the following 10 strategic commitments:

1. Enable a diversified, sustainable and competitive economy to continue to prosper and provide jobs in order to achieve a high quality of life for all Bay Area residents.
2. Provide housing affordable to all income levels within the Bay Area to match population increases and job generation.
3. Target transportation investment to achieve a world-class comprehensive, integrated and balanced multi-modal system that supports efficient land use and decreases dependency on single-occupancy vehicle trips.
4. Preserve and restore the region's natural assets, including San Francisco Bay, farmland, open space, and other habitats.
5. Improve resource and energy efficiency, reduce pollution and waste.
6. Focus investment to preserve and revitalize neighborhoods.
7. Provide all residents with the opportunity for quality education and lifelong learning to help them meet their highest aspirations.
8. Promote healthy and safe communities.
9. Support state and local government fiscal reforms.
10. Stimulate civic engagement.

Background: The Bay Area Alliance presented the initial Draft Compact to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) General Assembly in April 1999. That version was revised to reflect input from ABAG and other Bay Area Alliance members and stakeholders. During 2001, the Draft Compact was formally presented to Bay Area city councils and county boards of supervisors. Sixty five of the 101 cities and 7 of the 9 counties took actions supporting the work of the Bay Area Alliance and the process of developing the Draft Compact. The Bay Area Alliance also sought input from other Bay Area public and private sector leaders and the public to refine the Draft Compact and develop consensus on the recommended actions. The feedback received was used to finalize the Compact. The Compact was then submitted to member organizations for affirmation late in 2002.