Green Cincinnati Action Plan passed by council

Cincinnati City Council has passed Mayor Mark Mallory's Green Cincinnati Action Plan, a list of 80 specific recommendations that could reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent over the next 20 years. The plan provides short, medium, and long-term steps that the city and its citizens can take in the five core areas of transportation, energy, waste, land use and advocacy.

Developed by the Climate Protection Steering Committee and chaired by Vice Mayor David Crowley, the goal is to provide the city with clean air and water, improved public health, monetary savings, and a stronger local economy with the creation of new, green jobs. Over 150 professionals and concerned citizens provided input to the committee as they assembled the working plan.

The Office of Environmental Quality will be responsible for implementing the recommendations.

Live Green Cincinnati publisher Brianne Fahey is excited by the plan's recommendations.

"From my perspective, having a city government willing to support an action plan like this is incredibly encouraging," she says.  "It should really help Cincinnati reach that tipping point that pushes environmentally conscious lifestyle changes into the local mainstream and out into all parts of the city."

Fahey is looking forward to continuing to unleash her own passion and to be part of the transition to a more sustainable city.

"Live Green Cincinnati is working hard to connect people and small businesses to the education, services, ideas, and encouragement needed to keep a small environmental footprint," she says.  "The more press and support that sustainability gets, the more we’re affecting local businesses to encourage change.  Change is good, especially when it can make our lives better in so many ways."

Writer: Kevin LeMaster
Source: Brianne Fahey, publisher, Live Green Cincinnati
Photography by Scott Beseler