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.
Climate Plan great start, what of tower?
The plan makes mention of all the ingredients the city would need to achieve sustainability. Does the plan make room for the tower at 708 Church St. however, much less other condominium or residential development? The plan calculated a 14% reduction in carbon emissions by 2012 to reach our Kyoto obligations. The direct effects of more condominium development, and residual effects it may have on congestion, could render such calculations moot.
Development and Sustainability are not just Evanston’s issues however. Other communities in the region tackle those same issues whether politicians and developers like it or not! Please join the North Shore Chapter of the ILGP at Pick A Cup Cafe, 1813 Dempster in Evanston May 18, 4pm for a Congress on Development. Recognizing Sustainable Development does not relieve individual communities of their responsibility to the future, but rather obliges them to work separately and collaboratively towards that future. For more information please email info@northshoregreens.org.