Evanston, IL Climate Action Plan

Type: Policy

Status: Adopted in October 2006

Source File: http://www.cityofevanston.org/global/green/warming.shtml

Description:

CLIMATE CHANGE
In October 2006, the City of Evanston unanimously voted to sign the US Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement. Signed by over 700 cities nationwide, the agreement pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 7% from the 1990 levels by 2012.

In the fall of 2007, Evanston completed a greenhouse gas emission inventory which indicates we need to reduce our emissions by an estimated 14% in the next four years to meet this goal. However, this is only a short-term goal. Long term, many believe that an 80% reduction from present emissions by 2050 is necessary to curb the effects of climate change.

The City of Evanston and the Network for Evanston’s Future are jointly developing the Evanston Climate Action Plan through a citizen-based process. This plan will outline a wide range of measures and policies to reduce Evanston's greenhouse gas emissions.

Structured with nine task forces, each with one city and two citizen co-chairs, the process was launched at a public meeting on November 13, 2007, with over 130 participants. The draft Climate Action Plan will be presented to the community on May 4, 2008, and then, after revisions, presented to the Evanston City Council in July.

The nine task forces of the Evanston Climate Action Plan are:

• Transportation and Land Use
• Energy Efficiency & Buildings
• Renewable Energy Resources
• Waste Reduction & Recycling
• Forestry, Prairie & Carbon Offsets
• Food Production & Distribution
• Policy & Research
• Education & Engagement
• Communications & Public Relations