FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chicago Unveils Ambitious, Achievable Climate Action Plan

Contact: Amy Malick, ICLEI – 312.742.2203

On Thursday, September 17, 2008, the City of Chicago unveiled their much-anticipated Climate Action Plan. The full plan is available at: http://www.chicagoclimateaction.org/

The following is the statement of Michelle Wyman, Executive Director of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability - USA, an association of more than 450 cities, towns and counties working on local climate action:

“We applaud Mayor Daley and the City of Chicago, a long-time ICLEI member and leader in local climate initiatives for the launch of Chicago Climate Action Plan. Chicago, long applauded for an aggressive and trend-setting green roofs program, is once again driving leadership and innovation with a plan that complements an ambitious vision with a credible course of action, pairs mitigation and adaptation strategies, and engages local residents and businesses.

“The Chicago Climate Action Plan underscores the imperative for local governments to go beyond setting goals and to outline tangible implementation strategies. The city’s approach was reasoned, the process was inclusive of major stakeholders, and the end-product is a world-class model for other local governments.

“Broken out in 29 actions in four areas – buildings, transportation, energy and waste – the core components of the plan include:

• A “Green Office Challenge,” in partnership with ICLEI, that will spur commercial buildings to save energy, increase recycling and water efficiency and reduce waste.
• An updated Chicago Energy Efficiency Building Code
• Innovative ways to help property owners save money by making their buildings more energy efficient and support for retrofitting low-cost housing complexes
• Increased investment in much-needed transit infrastructure to curb emissions and provide mobility options for Chicago residents and visitors

“Importantly, Chicago has also taken the critical step, as part of the plan, to proactively identify and address the potential impacts of climate change for the city. With projections of a climate more akin to East Texas than chilly and windy Chicago – including 30 more days of 100-degree weather per year and severe drought – the city’s plan specifically calls out key adaptation strategies in an effort to prepare for climate-related impacts.”

Chicago has been a member of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability since1992. ICLEI has been actively engaged with the City’s climate protection and sustainability initiatives and is the lead partner on the city’s Green Office Challenge. ICLEI’s Midwest Regional Office is hosted by the City of Chicago.

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