Ann Arbor Launches new Carbon Neutrality Initiative – Seeks Feedback
In November 2019, City Council passed Resolution 19-2103: A Resolution in Support of Creating a Plan to Achieve Ann Arbor Community-Wide Climate Neutrality by 2030. In this Resolution Council directed city staff to work with the public to create a plan for achieving carbon neutrality, to be presented to Council by Earth Day 2020.
To support this work, the Office of Sustainability and Innovations launched A2ZERO, a new initiative to support the planning and implementation activities it will take to achieve a just transition to carbon neutrality in Ann Arbor by 2030.
During the next several months, the A2ZERO planning and implementation work will include: public events, online public engagement, engagement with four technical advisory committees, and collaboration with 50-plus partner organizations. “We are humbled to have this unique opportunity to work with our community to design a strategy for how we will achieve a just transition to carbon neutrality by 2030,” said Missy Stults, sustainability and innovations manager for the city. “Rarely does one have the chance to truly re-envision what a sustainable and just city could look like and to mobilize the resources to realize that vision.”
In Nov. 13, the City of Ann Arbor and its over 50 partner organizations hosted a Carbon Neutrality Town Hall to launch A2Zero and begin exploring what it would take for the entire Ann Arbor community to reduce climate pollution to zero (i.e., greenhouse gas emissions) in a just and equitable manner. The nearly 280-plus attendees at this event shared their ideas, concerns and hopes and helped lay the foundation for this new initiative.
To continue gathering feedback, the City is launching www.a2zero.org where individuals can stay up to date on the city’s carbon neutrality work, provide their ideas for consideration in the planning process, learn about upcoming carbon neutrality-related events, and get tips on how they can help the community achieve carbon neutrality.
To become a formal partner, please contact Galen Hardy, community outreach and engagement specialist for the city at ghardy@a2gov.org.
Partnering organizations include: National Wildlife Federation; Neutral Zone; Community Action Network; Citizens Climate Lobby – Ann Arbor; Ecology Center; Ann Arbor 2030 District; Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice; Michigan Environmental Council; Washtenaw 350; Ann Arbor Area Elders Climate Action Chapter; American Institute of Architects Huron Valley Chapter; University of Michigan; Washtenaw Climate Reality; Building Matters Ann Arbor; Michigan League of Conservation Voters; Sierra Club Huron Valley Group; A2 Climate Mobilization; Leslie Science and Nature Center; The Hands on Museum; Michigan Climate Action Network; Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber; Ann Arbor Housing Commission; THRIVE Collaborative; Michigan Interfaith Power and Light; Washtenaw County Democrats; American Society of Adaptation Professionals; Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition; Colonial Square Cooperative; Walker Miller Energy Services; United Way of Washtenaw County; Lean and Green Michigan; Washtenaw Housing Alliance; Citizens Climate Lobby – UM Chapter; Forest Hills Cooperative; Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 252; Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living; UM College Democrats; Students for Clean Energy; Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association; UM Climate Action Movement; Washtenaw Area Apartment Association; Washtenaw County; The Ride; Ann Arbor SPARK; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People-Ann Arbor Chapter; Ann Arbor Public Schools; Ann Arbor Indivisible; University of Michigan President’s Commission on Carbon Neutrality; Extinction Rebellion – Ann Arbor Chapter
