The local authority has a decisive role in developing and establishing an ecosystem of environmental innovation. This move does require commitment, getting together professionals and units in the authority, strategic planning and practical implementation, but the payoff for the effort is great: the authority strives to improve not only the environmental performance of the city, but also its own as an influential organization. Along with the contribution in reaching its sustainability goals that it has set for itself, an authority that establishes innovation contributes by positioning itself as a responsible body that thinks forward in the environment in which it operates.

The decision to adopt an innovative approach to sustainability can come from various factors in the authority, the city council, the management, environmental unit, strategy or planning units. Sometimes the impetus for the move will come from an external municipal, governmental, or international entity such as the C40 cities network.

A strategic decision of this type will be translated into an action plan that will direct municipal activity to promote innovation for sustainability, it is important that the plan be anchored within the framework of municipal policy and be reflected in work plans, budgets and personnel.

Formulating an action plan

The best way to start is by establishing a dedicated task force - a team or person with responsibility for coordinating and supervising innovation and entrepreneurship buildup. The role of the dedicated task force includes the following actions:
 

• Develop the ecosystem establishment and growth plan
• To connect stakeholders and partners from within the authority and outside
• Establish innovation for sustainability as an action that is identified with the municipality
• Make sure that the steps in building the ecosystem are properly implemented and meet the expectations and goals that were defined in advance
• Create visibility and ongoing reporting in and out

Have you formed a task force? Now it is possible to examine what exists today.