Climate News
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
Case studies for sustainability often involve really big places, like Portland or San Francisco. But a much different place hopes to demonstrate that it can be a model for energy efficient mobility: Oberlin, Ohio, population 8,761. Small towns and rural areas face some unique transportation challenges, and Oberlin hopes to demonstrate solutions that can be used in other communities.
CNT is helping Oberlin identify local strengths for sustainable transportation, such as its walkable downtown, biodiesel conversion station, and abundance of bicycles. But like many communities, Oberlin’s transit service has been cut in recent years and many residents own a car just to reach jobs and shopping. Earlier this month, CNT interviewed local leaders and community members about ways the town can overcome those challenges as it cuts the carbon impact from residents and workers traveling to, from, and within Oberlin. Read more »
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011
The recent release of the first ever scorecard of energy and environmental performance for federal government operations is a landmark step toward improving government sustainability. The White House Executive Order 13514, which was signed in October 2009, requires all federal agencies to appoint a sustainability director, take inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, and work to meet sustainability targets.
The scorecard, released in April, shows that the federal government operations resulted in emissions of 121 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e)—over three times more than the emissions caused by all residents and businesses in Chicago in a year. Of this federal total, 55%— 66 MMTCO2e— is covered by reduction targets under Executive Order 13514, with the remaining (largely defense-related) emissions tracked, but not targeted for mitigation. Read more »
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Thursday, March 17th, 2011
CNT and the North Side Community Federal Credit Union recently sponsored a two-day “train the trainer” program for financial counselors to reduce their clients’ household expenses and environmental impact. As part of CNT’s Equity Express program, the workshop illustrated that economic and environmental sustainability go hand in hand. Read more »
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Monday, February 7th, 2011
CNT staff presented our recommendations for the next Mayor of Chicago at the Field Museum.
CNT led a discussion about sustainability and the future of Chicago with Field Museum staff last week. The discussion was part of CNT’s outreach around Investing in a Better Chicago, our 22 policy recommendations for the city’s next mayor and City Council to strengthen the region’s economic and environmental sustainability. The event at the Field Museum is one of the numerous “house parties” CNT is organizing across the city to help make sustainability a key part of Chicago’s historic election. Read more »
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Thursday, January 6th, 2011
Leading environmental groups released a set of 20 questions for the city’s mayoral candidates. Photo credit ELPC
Seventeen leading environmental groups met today in downtown Chicago to release their Green Growth Platform, a set of 20 environmental questions posed to the city’s mayoral candidates that will help inform Chicago voters about where the candidates stand on important environmental issues facing the city. View the Candidates’ answers to the Green Growth Platform ››
Given that Chicago is the third largest city in the country and has a reputation of being “green,” it is crucial that this city of 3 million continues to be a leader in sustainability and pursue green initiatives that other cities across the nation adopt as their own. Read more »
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Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010
Sustainable development is economic development. That was the mantra when CNT put together a package of 22 policy recommendations for Chicago’s next mayor. The Mayoral Playbook makes the case for how Chicago’s next leaders can apply sustainable development principles to strengthen the city’s economy.
“Investing in a Better Chicago” argues that investing in strategies that make the city more sustainable will also make the economy more productive and resilient. The report calls for increased energy conservation, improved transportation options, prioritized development around transit nodes, and wide deployment of green infrastructure. All would save money, create jobs, conserve resources, and combat climate change. Read more »
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Wednesday, August 11th, 2010
Now that Congress has failed to pass strong climate legislation this year, the Obama Administration has the opportunity to demonstrate its leadership and re-tool its role in supporting state and local governments in creating better solutions to address climate change.
To respond to this missed opportunity at enacting a comprehensive climate policy, the Presidential Climate Action Project (PCAP) has drafted a fresh list of recommendations that President Obama can implement in the near term. As PCAP Executive Director William Becker, put it, “Congress has passed the ball back to President Obama. He should run with it.” Read more »
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Friday, July 23rd, 2010
News that the Senate leadership in Congress has decided to indefinitely postpone passing comprehensive climate and energy legislation this year is tremendously disappointing. Though climate change regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, states and regions are still moving forward, many viewed this summer as the best opportunity for Congress to pass legislation that would create a national framework to transform our energy system and cut global warming emissions.
Today’s news from Capitol Hill underscores why CNT’s work is more important than ever. Since the day CNT opened its doors more than 30 years ago, our philosophy is that change comes at the neighborhood level. And although it is crucial for the United States to implement a federal-level strategy to improve our energy system and reduce our global warming pollution, many of the actions required to meet any national climate goal will occur at the local level. That means every community can and should continue to move forward and do its part. Read more »
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Monday, July 12th, 2010
The White House Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force is holding a series of meetings to “hear local and regional ideas, questions and concerns about climate change impacts and to describe Federal planning efforts already underway.” Three (in Florida, Oregon and Hawaii) have occurred. On Thursday July 15, 2010, the Chicago meeting will be held at the Metcalfe Federal Building from 1-5 PM. CNT President Scott Bernstein will participate in the “Great Lakes Urban Infrastructure Panel” at 3:30 PM.
This session, organized and co-hosted by the EPA and HUD, will focus on local and regional ideas and concerns about climate change impacts in the Great Lakes region, including impacts to urban infrastructure and the Great Lakes ecosystem. Read more »
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Thursday, July 1st, 2010
CNT and its affiliates, CNT Energy and I-GO, were present at the opening of “Climate Change,” an exhibit organized by the American Museum of Natural History in collaboration with the Field Museum and several other museums. The exhibit includes the Chicago Climate Action Room that highlights the Chicago Climate Action Plan. Several local organizations were invited to produce a panel about their work addressing climate change. CNT’s panel shows what the public can do to reduce their emissions while saving money. Our panel focuses on energy reduction at home and on the road as well as ways to green communities. Read more »
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