The City of Cincinnati is emerging as a U.S. leader in tackling global climate change through its Green Cincinnati Action Plan, an effort to cut Greenhouse Gas emissions 8 percent by 2012 and 80 percent by 2050.
The plan, which City Council passed in 2008, recently got a major boost with a $500,000 Climate Showcase Community Award from the Environmental Protection Agency. The city's Office of Environmental Quality was awarded the highly competitive grant that will be paid out over three years. In addition, the EPA will highlight the city's efforts � which include 80 specific steps to reduce emissions � as an example for other cities looking for ways to clean up pollution. Currently more than 1,000 U.S. cities have some sort of plan to curb emissions.
"Our Green Cincinnati Action Plan is a collaboration among dedicated citizens, community organizations, and businesses in our region. Our partners all realize that making Cincinnati a 'Green City' is essential to making Cincinnati a successful city," said Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory.
Cincinnati was one of just 20 cities awarded the grant out of a total of 450 applicants. It will allow the city to continue to move forward on its ambitious plan. Recommendations include buying hybrid buses, encouraging car pooling, increased bus use and a regional rail system.
"This funding will provide a tremendous boost to fulfilling the vision and programs in the Green Cincinnati Action Plan" said Larry Falkin, director of the City of Cincinnati's Office of Environmental Quality.
Source: City of Cincinnati
Writer: Feoshia Henderson