Understanding that a great place to live is a great place to visit, Washington, DC’s goal is to become the healthiest, greenest and most livable city. The District has a history of leadership in sustainability within the United States; it was named the first LEED Platinum city in the world in 2017 and launched the nation’s first 100 percent renewable energy bill in 2018. To date, the city’s government has released some of the most aggressive, fastest-acting climate change legislation in the country. The city approaches climate change from two sides: adaptation and mitigation. It is committed to becoming carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2045, with a 60% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030. The city’s Sustainable DC 2.0 plan serves as a roadmap in its fight against climate change and is rooted in community priorities for equitably improving health, affordability, accessibility, and economic opportunity. Washington, DC has taken many steps to reducing consumption, reusing materials and recycling eligible waste throughout the city. The District's Zero Waste DC Plan, released in 2024, establishes a unified strategy for the city to achieve our goal of diverting 80% of the entire citywide waste stream away from landfill and incineration by 2040. With 40-plus hotels within walking distance of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the ease of commuting within the nation's capital is a key benefit for travelers. DC sets the scene for sustainable commuting with 246 miles (396 km) of bike lanes and trails and the second-busiest light rail system in the United States. DDC’s internal Sustainability Task Force ensure the organization’s own operations are in alignment with its messaging and the city’s overall environmental sustainability goals.

DDC staff includes information about the city’s sustainability initiatives in every proposal sent to clients. Included in those materials is a sustainability checklist encouraging planners to consider the environmental, social and economic pillars of sustainability while planning a meeting. The Connected Community initiative helps organizers planning events in DC connect with community partners to develop programs aligned with their mission and values. Serving as a facilitator and impact manager, DDC helps association and corporate groups leave a lasting legacy in the city. DDC’s Sustainability District program allows business events clients to choose suppliers from a vetted list of member businesses, ensuring their negative impacts are managed before ever stepping foot in the destination.

DDC has historically promoted businesses and experiences in the neighborhoods of all four quadrants of the destination, so that businesses everywhere can benefit from the visitors the organization helps bring to the city. DDC’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Business Fellowship is an intentional effort to expand the demographic makeup of its member businesses, ensuring the economic benefits of the tourism, meetings and events industry are accessible to all groups. This program was recognized with the GDS-Movement Innovation Award in 2023. DDC also launched The DEI District content hub in 2020, encouraging visitors to visit, meet, learn and engage more deeply with the people and culture of Washington, DC. Destination DC is committed to showing locals and visitors alike that the District is a place that promotes and validates diversity, equity and inclusion. Internally, DDC’s DEI Task Force and Accessibility Sub-Committee are charged with training and educating staff on the principles of DEI, and advocating social and economic sustainability principles in the organization.