Matt Evans
mevans@co.wayne.in.us
Environmental Sustainability Commission
Resolution
No. 9-2022
On Wednesday 24th, 2022, at 5:30 pm, Common Council will hear a resolution for approval of Richmond's Climate Action Plan. You can download the complete CAP here or view a condensed overview here.
Resolution
No. 9-2022
On Wednesday 24th, 2022, at 5:30 pm, Common Council will hear a resolution for approval of Richmond's Climate Action Plan. You can download the complete CAP here or view a condensed overview here.
A Climate Action Plan (CAP) serves as a roadmap for communities ready to reduce emissions, introduce energy efficiency programs, and join a global effort to combat climate change. Cities' needs vary widely, so no two CAPs look the same. Richmond has been fortunate enough to receive guidance from Indiana University on CAP best practices and continues to benefit from the collective knowledge of a handful of other Hoosier cities participating in annual sustainability programs. Climate Action Plans are also referred to as "Emission Reduction Plans" and "Sustainability Action Plans". Richmond's 2020 Comprehensive Plan directs the City to "Work with the Richmond Environmental Sustainability Commission to prepare a Citywide Sustainability Action Plan." The Commission hopes to present this plan to Common Council in 2021 for approval.
The Greenhouse Gas Inventory completed in 2019 is the basis for the Climate Action Planning work being done this year. Below is a schedule outlining the steps and timeline for the process ahead.
The Climate Action Plan will incorporate actions in alignment with Richmond's new Community Action Plan, Richmond Rising.
In 2019, Richmond was selected as one of 12 cities to participate in IU's 2020 Resilience Cohort: Planning for Action, which provided Richmond with the opportunity to analyze the results of our community greenhouse gas inventory and develop a climate action plan.
As part of the cohort, Richmond received support from the Environmental Resilience Institute, ICLEI USA, and a 10-week summer extern through Sustain IU’s Indiana Sustainability Development Program to boost staff capacity for the project.
In 2020, Richmond participated in the Hoosier Resilience Index survey which evaluates a city’s level of preparedness for disasters and complications made more severe by climate change (rising temperatures and extreme rain events, for example). Responses were gathered from those involved in energy production, emergency management, economic development, healthcare, and more. Results were gathered together into a plan of action that Richmond can use to build resiliency in the face of a changing climate. Project recommendations from the 2020 Richmond Rising Comprehensive plan included “creating a resiliency plan that aligns community priorities and resources to better withstand hazardous / disaster-related events and recover more quickly.” The resulting resiliency plan has been completed but will also be featured in the Climate Action Plan.
Climate change impacts everyone. Your voice matters. The better we understand how climate impacts Richmond on the individual level, the more greater impact Richmond's first climate action plan will have. Please contact us to schedule a time to meet!
Matt Evans, Environment Sustainability Commission President
Alison Zajdel
Grayson Hart, GIS Coordinator
IU ERI Index Team
IU Extern
About the Prepared for Environmental Change Initiative
The Indiana University Prepared for Environmental Change Grand Challenge initiative brings together a broad, bipartisan coalition of government, business, nonprofit and community leaders to help Indiana better prepare for the challenges that environmental changes bring to our economy, health and livelihood. Announced in May 2017, Prepared for Environmental Change is working to deliver tailored and actionable solutions to communities across the state of Indiana.
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