![]() Lakewood had previously budgeted $100,000 toward the proposal, with a final draft slated for summer or early fall. If we should do A, B or C, let’s go to the plan and figure out which of those steps will give us the most bang for our buck.” “We wanted to have a plan in writing to help us rank order our priorities. “An action plan is good common sense,” says Bullock. The West Side suburb is committed to using 100% renewable energy in local operations by 2035, he says. Lakewood City Councilman Tom Bullock says the program will also incorporate a climate vulnerability assessment and greenhouse gas inventory. Although still in draft mode, the initiative will revolve around sustainability in governance, from municipal programming, to environmental, economic and social policymaking. Plan priorities encompass relationships with community partners and ensuring any sustainability programming addresses social and racial equity. SSG is assisting Lakewood on data collection and objectives around the city’s stated 100% renewable energy goals. In Lakewood, the city is currently developing its climate action plan, naming Canada-based Sustainable Solutions Group (SSG) as a consultant on the effort late last year. And Cleveland Heights is assembling infill housing on vacant lots with help from area CDCs and its Neighborhood Redevelopment Program. South Euclid established a land bank with nonprofit community development corporation, One South Euclid, to acquire swaths of unused land. What’s more, re-investment in vacant properties through land trusts and other tools offers marginalized populations options for affordable housing. When Pepper Creek in Pepper Pike backed up onto properties, the city partnered with Western Reserve Land Conservancy and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District to redirect the meandering stream and floodplain. Land use is another regional pain point undergoing change, with neighborhoods balancing continued urbanization and protection of natural resources. In January,Euclid rolled out four new EV stations thanks to city funding and a grant from Greater Cleveland Partnership. The scooter pilot ties into Euclid’s larger sustainability push, which includes the addition of solar panels on city hall and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout the city. A pilot program introduced last fall brought electric scooters to four east side communities-Euclid, South Euclid, East Cleveland, and Cleveland Heights. Since 2016, cities have rallied around shared mobility in the form of electric scooters and rent-by-app bike stations. The toolkit is full of ideas on the policy level, so we tried to find local examples of where those policies have been put into place.” “The challenge is acting with urgency to where we have everyone rowing in the same direction. “There are issues of land use and development with air quality, and transportation has that impact, too,” said Lefkowitz, who is also a FreshWater contributor. The multiple issues the guide breaks down don’t exist in silos-Lefkowitz expects any forthcoming policies to carry at least some overlap. Marc Lefkowitz, a Cleveland-based sustainability consultant and former director of the GreenCityBlueLake Institute, assisted with the updated report. With motor vehicles remaining the largest producer of ozone-generating chemicals, for example, municipalities are becoming more proactive in reducing air pollutants, the toolkit says. Initially released in 2016, the updated toolkit presents guidelines for expansion of existing programs or creation of new initiatives.Įach section of the report contains data, resources and information to help navigate communities and businesses along their sustainability journey. The 79-page report is filled with recommended best practices for municipalities seeking to increase their Earth-friendly efforts. In February, the regional environmental group released its second " Sustainable Cuyahoga toolkit", a comprehensive guide for communities eager to protect the planet. In 2022, the Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability is hoping to inspire even more neighborhoods to get involved with the local climate change movement. These are just a few examples of how Greater Cleveland communities have launched sustainability efforts in the past few years. Shaker Heights partnering with Cuyahoga County on solar power workshops for residents. Lakewood developing a climate action plan. Electric vehicle charging station in EuclidĪn electric scooter rental pilot program in four East Side suburbs.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |