Climate Action Plan Project

Climate change has become a defining issue of the 21st century. Every person, business, institution, city and nation on Earth has a responsibility to assure that their actions will help put the world on a path toward climate neutrality. In the United States, this is a particularly significant responsibility because the U.S. emits a disproportionate share of greenhouse gases (GHG). Within the U.S, the state of Ohio is one of the largest emitters.

With funding from Nelson Talbott, The Cleveland Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, and Tom and Anne Tormey, the GreenCityBlueLake Institute is developing a project that will help to put Northeast Ohio on a responsible path toward climate neutrality.

The project will attempt to:

• Define the GHG reduction goals required for climate neutrality in the region.
• Describe the transition paths for key sectors, such as energy, transportation, and buildings.
• Educate the public and targeted constituencies about climate change solutions.
• Gain commitments for actual GHG reductions, and promote policy changes at the local, state and federal levels.

The overall goal is to move Northeast Ohio from a laggard to a leader on climate change. Such a transition will promote innovation and economic development, improve the environment and public health and bolster the image of the region as a place that is moving into the future.

Indeed, Northeast Ohio can be a model for other industrial regions in the Midwest — a highly visible example of the feasibility of climate solutions.