News

Christine Knapp is stepping down as Director of Sustainability at the end of August

Saleem Chapman will become the next Director of Sustainability.

The City of Philadelphia announced that Christine Knapp will step down as Director of the Office of Sustainability. Knapp will leave the role at the end of August after six years in the role.

Knapp has led Philadelphia’s sustainability and climate action work, including the creation and Implementation of Greenworks, the city’s sustainability framework. Additionally, she created the City’s first Climate Action Playbook, managed Philadelphia’s role in managing the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge and more.

“It has been an honor to serve as the Director of Sustainability for Philadelphia. I’m incredibly proud of our team’s accomplishments and that we’ve become nationally recognized as leaders in the climate fight. The urgency of the climate crisis requires continued and increasingly ambitious action, and I know the City is well-positioned to meet that challenge” said Christine Knapp in a press release.

Mayor Jim Kenney has appointed Saleem Chapman to fill the role of the next Director. Chapman has served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Sustainability for three years and was appointed the City’s first Chief Resilience Officer in 2021. 


Julie Hancher

Julie Hancher is the co-founder and Executive Director of Green Philly, an independent media organization making sustainability accessible, affordable and actionable. Since launching Green Philly in 2008, she has grown it from a passion project into a leading voice for local climate storytelling, pairing impactful journalism with community events and experiences. Julie is a frequent speaker on climate, media innovation and the future of local journalism, and is the creator of SustainPHL and EcoFair. Outside of Green Philly, you can find her hiking, biking, traveling, or exploring Philadelphia.

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