formerly citizens' greener Evanston
Evanston now has 25 years to achieve its carbon neutrality and zero waste goals as outlined in the Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP), and Sustainability and Resilience Manager Cara Pratt has said the city has already accomplished the “low-hanging fruit” in pursuing these targets.
What climate goals and policies would you prioritize in the coming term? How should the city pursue reduction of building emissions?
Do you support phasing out natural gas use in new construction, and requiring existing buildings work toward carbon neutrality over the next 25 years?
Everyone in Evanston is aware that the Climate Crisis is not in the future but is here now. Any new development should be held to strict rules to reduce its impact on the environment. But we should use carrots — not sticks — to encourage compliance.
There are many great ideas in the Healthy Building Ordinance, but we need to explore how to help buildings finance the proposed changes without displacing vulnerable communities. The cost of retrofitting buildings will be passed on to renters and will work against our affordability goals.
I think the reduction of natural gas in new construction can be encourage, but I have concerns about relying entirely on electric to achieve carbon neutrality. In environmental issues, we should use all the options we have available to us but cautious in how we move forward.
Finally, the city needs to take a leadership role in reducing emissions at its many facilities and buildings. It is hypocritical for the city to demand compliance with goals and policies when it is violating them more than most other buildings and companies.
