Some Key Climate Actions YOU Can Take
‍

Should you begin to become aware of an environmental issue, follow our multi-step interactive playbook to address it. Here, you can find a brief description of each step. For greater detail and further steps read the in-depth version of the E.A.R.T.H. playbook.

E. Evaluate your environment

Think about what elements of your local environment cause adverse health or living conditions. Examples include: pollution from trash, noise from traffic or industry, polluted water or air, or disproportionate city services in your community.

A. Assemble community

Find and recruit other members of the Evanston community who are affected by the issue you have found. Organize community events and meetings to develop possible ways to address the issue.

R. Report issue

Calls to Evanston 311 get problems officially recorded. Repetition helps: report it every time you see it. Keep a log of your calls and other actions you’ve taken. Make your council member aware of the issue and your actions.

T. Track issue

Try your best to do independent research at all phases of finding, reporting, and addressing the issue. Examples include looking through the Evanston City Code or doing permit checks on potential violators.

H. Healing

You and your community's biggest objective: try to fix the issue with a long-lasting resolution that not only rebuilds but rejuvenates the affected environment for now and the future.

Holding Listening Sessions

EJE has been holding community listening sessions to hear about Evanstonians lived experiences and how environmental justice impacts them. We are focused on residents in the 5th and 2nd wards. The information we gather from these sessions will help inform the City's Environmental Equity Investigation this spring.

Conducting the Environmental Equity Investigation & Mitigation Plan

EJE is working with the City to conduct an independent, transparent and comprehensive Environmental Equity Investigation (EEI) that documents the lived experiences of residents subject to environmental injustices; analyzes cumulative impacts on their well-being and quality of life, and examines their root causes.

Implementing the Environmental Justice Resolution

The resolution calls for the City to: incorporate environmental justice into City ordinances, codes, policies and processes in consultation with stakeholders, create a meaningful public engagement policy and decision making process in collaboration with the City's Equity and Empowerment Commission, develop and maintain a geographic information system (GIS) inventory of environmental justice areas.

Completing Mapping Project

EJE is working with the City to complete the interactive mapping tool to identify environmental justice issues within the city, which should inform the Environmental Equity Investigation and the EJ Mitigation Plan. EJE assists and advises appropriate city staff to complete the GIS mapping tool and assists with public comment on its completeness and usefulness to the community and investigation.

Environmental Justice Evanston (EJE) sees environmental equity as a basic human right, and defines environmental justice as the actions and activism necessary to protect that right. We are committed to highlighting inequities and reducing their disproportionate impacts on the health and quality of life for low income, Black, Indigenous, and all people of color in Evanston.

Our Calendar

No items found.

You're Needed! Here Are Some Involvement Opportunities

Follow Us on Social Media

Learn more about what environmental justice issues are impacting Evanston by following our Facebook and Instagram pages. We frequently update our pages to reflect current issues and work we are accomplishing with the City of Evanston.