A Global Climate Emergency Through the Eyes of Cleveland, OH (Part III)
by Emily Qian
Part I of “A Global Climate Emergency Through the Eyes of Cleveland, OH” focused on an overview of the global climate emergency as well as a deeper look into the impact of climate change on the temperatures of Cleveland, OH, over the last decade. Part II featured a discussion of the more regional issue of algae blooms on Lake Erie. These just barely scraped the surface on environmental issues facing Cleveland, OH. With problems regarding land conservation, nonrenewable energy sources, air pollution, and much more, all steadily worsening over the years, there’s certainly no doubt that the global crisis has entrenched itself deeply into our everyday lives. However, the future of our mother earth isn’t merely a morbid, unstoppable, vision of doom: there’s much that can and is being done to help. So, for the final article of this series, I decided to end on a positive note with a report on what’s currently being done in Cleveland to address the climate emergency.
Perhaps surprisingly, Cleveland is actually doing relatively well in taking initiative on this issue. In fact, in a report ranking nearly 600 cities around the world on an A-D grade, Cleveland landed amongst the 43 cities around the globe and 21 cities in the United States to earn an A. Essentially this means that Cleveland is above average in effectively managing, measuring, and fighting greenhouse gas emissions.
A lot of credit goes to Frank G. Jackson, our Mayor of Cleveland from 2005 to the present (making him the longest-serving mayor in Cleveland’s history). In 2009, he founded Sustainable Cleveland 2019, a 10-year initiative to engage all residents in reshaping Cleveland in a more environmentally friendly way. Their work has included energy efficiency, local food sourcing, renewable energy, zero waste, clean water, sustainable transportation, vibrant green space, and much more.
Moreover, the organization announced 2018 revisions to the Cleveland Climate Action Plan created in 2013. Essentially, after the United States pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2017, Cleveland decided to take climate change under the leadership of local government. Kept the same was 2013’s overarching goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 with interim goals of 16% by 2020 and 40% by 2040. However, they put greater emphasis on individual resident and neighborhood engagement in addressing social and racial equity, green jobs and businesses, and climate change resilience.
The group’s efforts culminated in the 2019 Sustainable Cleveland Summit held in October of this year, where they revealed their noteworthy advances over the past decade. Though Sustainable Cleveland 2019 has come to a close, Sustainable Cleveland will carry on the momentum gathered by this initiative and continue to take crucial action on the issue of climate change.
In addition to government led environmental efforts, there have also been laudable independent organizations as well as established businesses making their contributions as well. Some prominent local groups have been listed below:
Cleveland Metroparks: working on conservation of our natural resources and integrating environmental sustainability into people’s lives (https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/about/cleveland-metroparks-organization).
Drink Local Drink Tap (DLDT): Cleveland based nonprofit inspiring individuals to recognize and help solve water issues in the Great Lakes Region and as far away as Africa (https://www.drinklocaldrinktap.org/).
Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo): building a wind farm (wind turbines) several miles off the coast of Lake Erie to harness renewable energy (http://www.leedco.org/).
Cleveland 2030 District: nonprofit helping businesses and property managers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in their buildings structure and operations. It’s primarily centered in downtown Cleveland’s University Circle neighborhood (https://www.2030districts.org/cleveland).
KeyBank: created a business segment, “Key4green,” which helps interested clients understand and decide how they can invest in renewable energy for their business (https://www.key.com/businesses-institutions/industry-expertise/energy/energy-efficiency-renewables.jsp)
I highly encourage everyone to learn more about Sustainable Cleveland and the groups listed above, especially if you’re interested in ways that you can personally get involved.
Through this series, “A Global Climate Emergency Through the Eyes of Cleveland, OH,” we’ve explored two of the many major ways in which our city has been impacted by the global climate crisis. However, in this final article, we’ve also been reminded of the many ways in which Cleveland’s local government, businesses, and nonprofits have been rallied to combat this growing problem. Ultimately, in the very real and pervasive issue of this climate emergency, there is no clear solution. Yet, through proactively seeking increased understanding, becoming caring citizens of our planet, and taking persistent action – whether big or small – we truly can make a difference.