What Can The Next Mayor Do To Make Chicago Greener?

Study Sheds New Light On Environmental Racism
In this 2015 file photo, a thick haze of smog looms over the skyline of Chicago. A new study in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" finds that black and Hispanic Americans are at more risk from air pollution mainly caused by white Americans' consumption of goods and services. Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press
Study Sheds New Light On Environmental Racism
In this 2015 file photo, a thick haze of smog looms over the skyline of Chicago. A new study in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" finds that black and Hispanic Americans are at more risk from air pollution mainly caused by white Americans' consumption of goods and services. Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press

What Can The Next Mayor Do To Make Chicago Greener?

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Back in February, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office announced the “Resilient Chicago” plan, an effort to transition all of Chicago’s buildings to 100 percent renewable energy by 2035.

Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot has also stated her support for the clean energy goal, and also said that as mayor, she would reinstate the Department of Environment as well as overhaul the city’s failing recycling program.

So, what should the mayor-elect keep in mind as she pushes toward those goals? Morning Shift takes a look at what the incoming administration should focus on in creating a greener future for the city and what specific steps legislators can take to get there. 

GUESTS: Karen Weigert, senior fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and former chief sustainability officer for the City of Chicago

Kim Wasserman, executive director of the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization

Naomi Davis, CEO and founder of Blacks In Green

LEARN MORE:

Tons and tons of Chicago recycling isn’t getting recycled. And a private company is paid for it — twice. (BGA 10/10/18)

Climate change has already started disrupting life in the Great Lakes region — and it’s only going to get worse (Chicago Tribune, 3/21)

How will climate change affect Chicago and the Midwest? Here’s what the experts are telling us. (Chicago Tribune 4/8)