NEWS & EVENTS

NEWS

2011 Press & Articles

2010 Press & Articles

2009 Press & Articles

2008 Press & Articles

Events & Opportunities:

Chicago at COP17 in Durban

The Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP) was featured on two panels for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 17th Conference of the Parties in Durban, South Africa this past December, 2011.  These panels showcased Chicago's adaptation and performance measurement efforts as some of the country's best environmental practices.  Olivia Cohn, Chicago's climate specialist, represented CCAP on both panels, including the "U.S. Federal Actions for a Climate Resilient Nation Panel".

Chicago Center for Green Technology: Energy Fair 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd., 9am - noon

This free event will include a series of presentations, facility tours and vendor exhibits aimed to help you become more energy efficient, reduce your utility bills and save money.

Learn About:

• Energy Saving Tips at Home
• Sealing Doors & Windows
• Strategies for Small Businesses
• Local Energy Programs & Rebates
• Selecting Energy Efficient Appliances

View the Energy Fair flyer. No RSVP necessary.

Chicago Sustainable Backyard Program

Dig in to create a more environmentally-friendly landscape in your yard this spring. The City of Chicago is offering rebates to Chicago residents for up to 50% off their next local purchase of trees, native plants, compost bins or rain barrels. Attend a Sustainable Backyard Workshop hosted by DOE staff to learn proper planting and installation techniques if you're just getting started or download a rebate form online at www.cityofchicago.org/rainbarrel if you're ready to roll up your sleeves. Rules and restrictions apply.

Funding for rebates comes from the US Environmental Protection Agency's Pollution Prevention Program and a USDA Forest Service Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grant.

Chicago's Diverse and Resilient Tree Planting Strategies

Experts say that Chicago's changing climate will increase and intensify the stressors put on our urban forest - the trees that make up our backyards, parks and public spaces. These stressors include increased heat, humidity and rainfall, among others. The City of Chicago recommends a list of trees suited for our climate and works with partners throughout Chicago to create and sustain a healthy, diverse and resilient urban forest. In order to keep Chicago's urban forest healthy and avoid large tree losses due to invasive pests, Chicago recommends diversity in our urban forest. For more information, please visit the Department of Streets & Sanitation's Bureau of Forestry or the Chicago Trees Initiative.

New Economic and Job Impact Research Conducted

The Boston Consulting Group conducted and released research into the economic and job impacts of meeting and exceeding the goals set out in the Chicago Climate Action Plan. Read their findings.

2011 Roosevelt Institute Campus Network Chicago Summer Academy

In summer 2011, Chicago will work with 13 Fellows from the Roosevelt Institute Campus Network (RICN), to support governmental environmentally-sustainable projects. RICN is a national student initiative which engages young people in a unique forum of progressive activism that empowers them as leaders.

RICN boasts more than 8,000 members across 80 chapters. Since its founding, Roosevelt members have presented student policies on Capitol Hill, testified to city councils, implemented legislation and worked directly in their communities.

Chicago’s Roosevelt Fellows will work in different City of Chicago department and sister agency offices (see the full list below), working on environmental and energy projects. As part of their Fellowships, the Roosevelt Fellows will write a white paper, recommending means to keep Chicago’s sustainability work moving forward. Their Fellowships run nine weeks from mid-June through mid-August.

Roosevelt Fellows will be working with:

1. Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection 
   
2. Chicago Park District
   
3. Chicago Public Schools
   
4. Chicago Transit Authority
   
5. Chicago Department of Department of Aviation
   
6. Chicago Department of Department of Environment
   
7. Chicago Department of Department of General Services
   
8. Chicago Department of Department of Public Health
   
9. Chicago Department of Department of Transportation
   
10. Chicago Department of Department of Water Management
    
11. Public Building Commission
     
    

Meet the 2011 class of Roosevelt Fellows. Learn more about the RICN.

Chicago's Roosevelt Fellows, and the Fellows with their agency partners.

Stop unwanted mail. City of Chicago joins forces with Catalog Choice

The City of Chicago has joined forces with communities across the country to debut a zero-waste initiative that will allow consumers to stop unwanted phone books, catalogs, coupons and credit card solicitations at the source. The free service, designed by Catalog Choice, will help Chicago reach its Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP) goal of diverting 90% of our waste from landfills by 2020—one mailbox at a time. City residents and businesses can sign up for the mail preference service beginning today at https://chicago.catalogchoice.org/. >>Read the Chicago Catalog Choice press release.

Prepare for Floods

The Chicago Office of Emergency Management Communications released a brochure to help Chicago businesses and residents prepare for extreme precipitation events, such as floods. Read the brochure.

CCAP Green Staff Visits Chicago Park District Facilities

In August 2011, the Chicago Climate Action Plan Green Staff, City staffers and consultants who implement the CCAP, took a trip to three Chicago Park District facilities. The Green Staff visited the biodiesel processing plant, a LEED certified beachhouse and a LEED certified neighborhood park. View the trip picture on the CCAP's Facebook page.

Climate Action Heroes from Green Festival 2010
Check out the pictures of our Climate Action Heroes from Green Festival 2010. These folks completed the Climate Action Quest, a scavenger hunt that took them around the festival collecting stamps from various part of the Chicago Climate Action Plan. Once they had all their stamps, they became a hero and got to don the cape and carry the trophy!