A year ago, the City of Chicago launched the Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP), outlining the steps necessary to reduce Chicago's greenhouse gas emissions and to prepare for climate change impacts. The CCAP aims to reduce carbon emissions to 75% of 1990 levels by 2020 and to 20% of 1990 levels by 2050. The Plan identifies five key strategies focused on transportation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste, and adaptation.
Recently, more than 300 people came together in Chicago to reflect on the Plan and to discuss the many organizations that have contributed to its progress. Throughout the symposium, CCA and partner firms led multiple presentations, highlighting the central role we have, collectively, played developing and launching the CCAP.
For example,
A.T. Kearney recently helped 15 City departments and agencies develop their individual climate plans and metrics for reducing carbon emissions.
Boston Consulting Group defined the implementation plan for the transportation strategy. BCG's earlier work to develop the City's Zero Waste Plan greatly informed the waste strategy.
Katzenbach (now
Booz & Company) defined the program for retrofitting residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
Bain & Company worked with the Environmental Law and Policy Center to recommend options for increasing renewable energy sources. Overall, the Civic Consulting Alliance and our partners have contributed more than $8 million in support of Chicago's climate initiatives over the past three years.
Now we are helping to implement the plan. Next year, we will expand our climate initiatives with a focus on implementation, measurement, and support for the climate action plan. We will also lead the project management office to coordinate, communicate, and implement the transportation strategy. The Surdna Foundation and the Global Philanthropy Partnership - both new to CCA - are generously supporting this work.
