Come find out how you can help Evanston go green!
An event May 4 will include a presentation of a proposal for Evanston’s ‘Climate Action Plan,’ a set of recommendations drafted by citizens and City staff to help Evanston — city, businesses and residents — reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Co-sponsored by the Network for Evanston’s Future and the City of Evanston, the event will be held from 2p-5p at JRC, Evanston’s newly-built ‘green’ synagogue at 303 N. Dodge.
The day’s events will include:
- An update on the state of sustainability in Evanston by City Manager Julia Carroll
- A report from Springfield by State Rep Julie Hamos
- A presentation of the draft Climate Action Plan by Evanston Sustainability Coordinator Carolyn Collopy
- An explanation of what is a ‘carbon footprint,’ and how you can reduce yours
- Break-out sessions with Evanston volunteers who will answer questions and encourage citizens to help the effort.
The Evanston Climate Action Plan outlines recommendations for measures and policies designed to reduce Evanston’s greenhouse gas emissions. It was created by a unique collaboration between City staff and community volunteers, and, following revisions, will be presented to the Evanston City Council.
A bit of background: In October 2006, the City of Evanston unanimously voted to sign the US Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement, which is signed by more than 700 American cities and pledges greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 7% of 1990 levels by 2012. A Fall 2007 greenhouse gas emissions inventory conducted by the City indicates that, to honor this pledge, the Evanston community must reduce emissions by an estimated 13% in the next four years. Other items on the agenda for the Earth Month event include:
- Presentation of Zerofootprint Evanston, a new emissions calculator designed for Evanston
- Open House-style presentations by citizens about how to ‘go green’
- Presentation of awards to community members for environmental stewardship
- Tours of the newly-rebuilt JRC synagogue, slated to be the highest-rated LEED-certified synagogue in the U.S.
The Network for Evanston’s Future is a partnership of grass roots organizations committed to making Evanston a community that contributes to the long-term conservation of the Earth. The Network includes Evanston’s Energy Future, Evanston’s Transportation Future, Evanston’s Affordable Housing Future, the Interreligious Sustainability Circle, the Citizens’ Lighthouse Community Land Trust, and the Evanston Food Policy Council.
For more information about the Earth Month Event or the Network for Evanston’s Future, go to www.evanstonfuture.org. For information on Evanston’s Climate Action Plan, visit www.cityofevanston.org. Or, interested citizens are invited to call Susan Besson at 847/864-3871.