As one of 11 communities selected to be part of Indiana University’s second Resilience Cohort, the Town of Zionsville is developing a climate action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
As a first step in the climate action planning process, the Town of Zionsville is conducting a comprehensive inventory of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from activities within Zionsville boundaries. The inventory is being led by the Zionsville Parks & Recreation Department and Park Board member Jill Pack. The inventory will measure energy used for buildings, vehicles, transit systems, waste disposal and other activities by Zionsville residents and will help the Town understand where the community can achieve emissions reductions.
A climate action plan is a fundamental step for Hoosier cities and towns committed to protecting their communities from heavier rainfalls in spring and winter, more river and flash floods and more freeze-thaw events that lead to potholes, among other impacts. The finished plan will provide the Town of Zionsville with a strategy for adapting to the impacts of climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“The Town of Zionsville is making a commitment to address climate change,” said Mayor Emily Styron. “Through this inventory, along with other strategic research, reporting and policy, we can begin to plan for the future to minimize emissions and work toward a greater sustainability initiative.”
The Town of Zionsville anticipates that a draft plan will be completed and submitted to Mayor Styron by November 2020.
The Resilience Cohort was established in 2019 by the Environmental Resilience Institute. The 2020 Cohort is made up of 11 cities and towns that will develop climate action plans this year. As part of the Cohort, the Town of Zionsville has access to technical resources, a peer network and training through ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, a nonprofit that specializes in helping local governments with emissions management and climate action.
Other Resilience Cohort participants include: Carmel, Elkhart, Evansville, Fishers, Fort Wayne, Gary, Goshen, Michigan City, Richmond and West Lafayette.