Celebrating Cleveland's Selection as a Bloomberg American Sustainable City! ??
Sustainable Cleveland
Together, we're building a thriving green city on a blue lake.
We are proud to announce that the City of Cleveland has joined the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities?(BASC) program. This initiative is designed to give cities, such as Cleveland, the funding, expertise, and manpower to address the intersection between climate change and racial wealth inequality.
Cleveland was selected based on the city's prior experience in building equitable communities and advancing economic prosperity amidst a lack of federal funding and the ever-growing climate crises. Through the BASC program, we?will receive a funded innovation team (i-team) made up of three?new?staff members, including the i-team Director and i-team Civic Designer. The city will also receive multi-year, in-depth, customized policy and technical assistance in collaboration with community-based organizations to mobilize public, private, and philanthropic investments.??
“Cleveland has long embraced the responsibility of acting on climate change and environmental stewardship.?The BASC program will support equitable and more rapid implementation of historical funding at the neighborhood level. Enhancing resources in our disadvantaged communities and reducing the racial wealth gap to achieve a more equitable and resilient city for all Clevelanders,” said Mayor Bibb.
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This Earth Month we are proud to showcase the progress and ongoing efforts underway to advance climate action and implementation strategies across Cleveland. The Mayor's Office of Sustainability is leading the charge to update the City's climate action plans, this includes the community-focused Cleveland?Climate Action Plan (CAP) and the city operations-focused Municipal Action Plan (MAP).
As part of the process, our team has convened the Cleveland Climate Advisory Council, Steering Committee, and Working Groups to begin identifying priorities and actions across the built environment, circular economy, energy, nature-based solutions, resilient people, and transportation sectors. These convenings have brought together local and regional experts, offering their invaluable insights and expertise to shape a comprehensive list of climate actions for the community Climate Action Plan (CAP).?
Simultaneously, we have begun the first phase of city employee engagements to gather feedback from leaders of every City department on the Municipal Action Plan (MAP). The MAP update is crucial in preparing for the impacts of a changing climate and developing strategies that decarbonize city operations.
Stay tuned for CAP public engagements coming this Summer!
JOINT STATEMENT: Climate Mayors, C40 Cities, and Urban Sustainability Directors Network Applaud EPA's $20 Billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Announcement and Urge Local Government Partnership.
Join us on?April 18th at 5:30pm for an overview of The Circular Economy and Fashion?and meet Cathi Lehn, Ph.D. from the City of Cleveland, Office of Sustainability Sr. Manager – Circular Economy! During the virtual event, she'll share a presentation?which sets the stage for the important work we are doing through Cleveland Sews and the work that we are launching more broadly through our Community Sew-A-Thon and Social Manufacturing.
Looking for something to do this Earth month? Check out these events!
Energy Program Manager, Michael Bean had the privilege of attending the Better Buildings Summit hosted by the U.S. Dept. of Energy in Washington, D.C. The Summit featured well-curated sessions covering various topics such as greenhouse gas reduction, policy updates, and sector success stories.
Through his reflections, one of the most commendable aspects of the summit was its emphasis on collaboration and partnership. There was a mix of industry beginners and experts that fostered a community of like-minded professionals. Highlights included events that showcased innovative techniques and local initiatives such as the Cleveland Cliffs pilot program which uses hydrogen in its processes. Additionally, the City of Cleveland's?Better Climate Challenge Road Show?episode was played featuring our very own Mayor Bibb and Director O'Keeffe.?
This month marks special milestones as we celebrate the work anniversaries of some incredible team members! Congratulations and thank you for your commitment to the City of Cleveland????
Left to Right: Brittany Montgomery , Communications & Team Management (5), Anand Natarajan , Assistant Director (14), and Philena S. , Outreach & Education Manager (18).
Have a community notice or job posting you'd like to share in the next newsletter? Email [email protected].
Written by: Brittany Montgomery & Helen Treseler