There is a growing awareness among green building leaders that buildings have a profound impact on sustainability, including social equity and human health, a study conducted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) found.

This finding was identified through an “issues mapping” study conducted at the beginning of the strategic planning process for the USGBC. From that finding, among others, USGBC developed its 2009-2013 Strategic Plan.

The Plan was adopted by the USGBC board of directors at its July board meeting following a year long process that engaged stakeholders, constituency and leadership.

The Plan's strategic goals provide a set of priorities that will frame USGBC's direction in the coming years. Each goal intentionally addresses the priority issues that the USGBC must respond to and the role that USGBC should play in its response. The goals are:

• Sustainable Cities and Communities: Catalyze and lead the building sector's active participation in the movement to achieve sustainable cities and communities.

• Climate Change and Natural Resources: Lead the dramatic reduction and eventual elimination of building construction and operations' contribution to climate change and natural resource depletion.

• Green Building Marketplace: Accelerate green building demand, delivery, and accessibility.

• Public Policy: Advocate for effective and comprehensive green building policy and codes at all levels of government.

• International: Advance green building around the world by developing certification capacity, sharing knowledge, and collaboratively advancing regionally appropriate and effective green building practices and policies.

• Organizational Excellence: Leverage USGBC's organizational structure and capacity to support and catalyze the market transformation required to achieve its mission.