About a year ago Ann Arbor adopted an audacious plan of reaching carbon neutrality by 2030 with a total investment of $1 billion. This is faster than just about any other city in the country. We speak with Missy Stults, Ann Arbor's Sustainability and Innovations Manager, about the plan, how Ann Arbor is doing so far, and how they're going to achieve their goal.  

Resources

• A2ZERO Carbon Neutrality home page for Ann Arbor
• A2ZERO week - 1 year anniversary celebration
• Smart Cities Dive article on Ann Arbor's adoption of A2ZERO

39% of the nation's coal comes from Wyoming. Yet there are some strong local movements for renewable energy and climate action. Learn how a unique and powerful coalition of climate activists, university students, and city officials inspired Laramie's recent commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. We interview Monika Leininger of the Powder River Basin Resource Council, Professor Rachael Budowle of the University of Wyoming, and Laramie City Council member Brian Harrington.

Resources

• Laramie Resolution committing to carbon neutrality by 2050
• Article about Laramie's resolution
• Alliance for Renewable Energy - Laramie organization
• Powder River Basin Resource Council
• Excellent High Country News article summarizing local climate efforts in Wyoming
• Article - Students as Change Agents for Community–University Sustainability Transition Partnerships, by Rachael Budowle

In December 2019, Tacoma Washington, in coordination with the Puyallup Tribe, declared a climate emergency. We examine why they did it and how it has been a springboard for more aggressive climate goals and an increased focus on climate justice. We interview Patrick Babbitt from the City of Tacoma and Emma Keese from Citizens for a Healthy Bay which has led much of the community outreach for Tacoma.

Resources

• Tacoma Climate Emergency Resolution: Press Release and Resolution text (Resolution 40509 starting on page 28) 
• Puyallup Tribe Climate Emergency Resolution: Press Release and Resolution text
• Tacoma citizen groups
  • Environmental Justice Leaders Workgroup
  • Climate Action Ambassadors
• Citizens for a Healthy Bay (Emma Keese's org)
• Puget Sound Climate Preparedness Collaborative

The NAACP has created comprehensive tools that cities can learn from and leverage in service of climate justice. We interview Jacqui Patterson, Senior Director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice program. Having run the program since its inception in 2009, Jacqui shares examples of cities that have used some of their tools as well as an inspiring vision of a climate justice community.

Resources

• NAACP Environment & Climate Justice webpage
• Our Communities Our Power - toolkit
• Unleashing the Power of the People: Lessons on Public Engagement for Environmental and Climate Justice
• Report: Lights out in the Cold - Reforming Utility Shut-off Policies as if Human Rights Matter 
• Just Energy: Reducing Pollution, Creating Jobs Toolkit
• Manual: Engaging With Public Utilities and Public Service Commissions
• 10,000 Steps to Environmental and Climate Justice Project Toolkit

Boulder Colorado is embarking on a hyper-local neighborhood-based approach to climate action. We interview Boulder Sustainability Coordinator Elizabeth Vasatka, and climate activist David Takahashi, about an exciting new program to get residents involved and create social capital in the process.

Resources

• Accelerate Neighborhood  Climate Action (ANCA) website
• Boulder ANCA effort
• More ANCA info from ICA, one of three founding partner organizations
• Sample ANCA forum document
• ANCA Denver Facebook page
• The Keeling Curve - website
• Charles David Keeling -wikipedia entry

In February 2021 Fayetteville was the first city in the US to be awarded the designation of Bike City by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body of cycling. We talk with Dane Eifling, Fayetteville's Mobility Coordinator, about their approach to cycling infrastructure in this northwest Arkansas city of about 85,000 people.

Make sure to check out our bonus youth episode, where you'll learn the story of our unique podcast music. 

Resources

• Bicycle Fayetteville info
• Fayetteville's Active Transportation Plan
• Bike City on UCI website page
• Fayetteville's Energy Action Plan
• Fayetteville's Response to Climate Change

We interview 17-year old Amelia Southern about her path to climate justice activism in Fayetteville, that includes a Miami influence. And we reveal the source of our podcast music!

For more information about Fayetteville, check out episode 6.

Resources

• Zero Hour Arkansas
• Zero Hour - National organization

Goshen is a northern Indiana city of 35,000 people that has had a Republican majority City Council and a Democratic mayor for decades. Yet they've made strong progress on climate action. Learn how (hint - young people played a significant role).

Check out our bonus youth episode where we talk to one of the student leaders that helped inspire the Council to action.

Resources

• Goshen Climate Action Planning webpage
• Climate Action Plan presentation to City Council - June 2020
• Mayor Stutsman's letter to City Council establishing Dept of Environmental Resilience
• Ordinance establishing the Department of Environmental Resilience
• Goshen greenhouse gas emission inventories (city operations and community)

We interview now college freshman Dylan Steury about his role, and the role of young people in general, in Goshen climate action. Hear about how he and his peers presented to City Council and got their unanimous support.

For more information and links check out episode 5.