Awareness of equity and social justice issues has improved in recent years, but 2020 has significantly magnified these concerns. In light of the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable populations and more general concerns about the unequal distribution of costs and benefits from infrastructure projects, there is a growing need to focus on social sustainability issues. Sustainability rating systems have always promoted a Triple Bottom Line approach to analyzing project costs and benefits with a goal of creating value for all community stakeholders, but the three parts of the triple bottom line may not have received equal consideration in that equation. This presentation will describe an analysis of multiple prominent sustainability rating systems, to determine how and to what extent they incorporate aspects of social equity. The goals of the presentation will be to: describe how sustainability rating systems define social equity, illustrate how social equity as an idea is translated into rating system credits and criteria, discuss how applying rating systems to projects may help achieve social equity, even if not explicitly stated as such, and highlight gaps where additional attention to social equity might improve rating systems’ triple bottom line impact.

Track 3: Evaluating the Potential of Sustainability Rating Systems to Address Social Equity

To lean into ASCE’s sustainability efforts to mitigate environmental effects and use resources wisely, ASCE’s International Conferences on Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI) 2021 will be held as a virtual event. The dates of ICSI 2021 will be December 6-10th.

Powered by the ICSI Steering Committee based in Houston, the 2021 event will bring together leaders to discuss leveraging sustainable infrastructure for resilient communities.  The program will offer content from across the globe, but have several highlights on sustainability initiatives in Houston, Texas. We hope you will join us virtually for plenary sessions, technical discussions, along with opportunities for Q&A and networking, connecting with virtual exhibitors, and to earn professional development hours.  

[Paper Proceedings](https://ascelibrary.org/doi/book/10.1061/9780784483879)

Conference DOI: https://doi.org/10.26226/m.63208d58cb3e8e001271fcc3