Climate Equity
Kim Havey, Sustainability Director; Members of the Climate Equity Plan Steering Committee; Mississippi River Flooding
The theme for this year’s Earth Day is “Invest in Our Planet”. It is an appropriate message for how we each can practice environmental stewardship. Our firm has had the privilege of actively leaning into this message in our work with the City of Minneapolis to update the Climate Equity Plan.
The Climate Equity Plan (CEP) sets a goal to significantly reduce climate pollution by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050. The plan envisions an environmentally just, resilient, low-carbon and equitable city. Its mission is to advance environmentally just policies that achieve deep carbon emission reductions, repair past environmental injustices perpetuated on BIPOC communities, while creating solutions for a sustainable inclusive economy.
This week I proudly watched Kim Havey, Sustainability Director, present the draft plan to the Public Health and Safety Committee. It is the culmination of a year of listening and learning from residents, businesses, agencies, and experts to shape the plan’s focus, actions and strategies. We framed these learnings around Health, Wealth and Climate.
Health – We imagine a Minneapolis that supports healthy living for all.
Wealth – We imagine a Minneapolis where wealth is built for all in a mindset of abundance not scarcity, and past injustices are rights.
Climate – We imagine a Minneapolis where we live sustainably and respond resiliently to growing climate impacts.
The last ten days in Minneapolis is a sure indicator of what’s to come for growing climate impacts. We experienced 90-degree sunny days to 32 degrees with snow to flooding along the Mississippi River. These extreme weather indicators reflect the need for us to invest in our planet in areas such as carbon free energy, a zero-waste economy, clean air, clean water, greenspace, and healthy homes to reduce our carbon emissions.
I think one of my biggest takeaways is how climate is experienced differently dependent on where you live. Neighborhoods near manufacturing facilities or with less tree canopy have more issues with the air quality and higher temperatures impacting health. Renters are dependent on landlords to have energy efficient buildings and appliances which reduce household energy burden. These are some of the types of inequities elevated and prioritized in the CEP.
Check out the City of Minneapolis CEP to learn more about more about you can do as well as take the survey to share your comments.
https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/climate-equity/climate-equity-plan/
The CEP is in a 45-day comment period now after which will go before the City Council for approval. I can’t think of a better investment to celebrate Earth Day!
