By Maeve Elder, Communication & Outreach Coordinator
Missouri Gateway Green Building Council
For those of us building a healthy planet space, this is a frustrating time. Green building and climate work has always been an uphill battle with fluctuating progress, but a moment like this can make it feel like we’re stuck in the myth of Sisyphus and the boulder just pushed us back many decades. I’ve done my share of stewing the last few months, but I’ve come to realize that more than ever we need to lean into hope, and tangible local action.
Fresh off our annual St. Louis Earth Day Festival themed around “Climate Hope,” I’ve been grateful for a moment to be rooted locally, to see and celebrate our community’s shared commitments to advancing climate action. In addition to a myriad of amazing nonprofit efforts, there are three large-scale climate action planning efforts currently underway. What is a Climate Action Plan? It’s a framework that outlines how local government can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help build community resilience in the face of climate change.
St. Louis City’s Sustainability & Climate Plan aims to unify existing sustainability initiatives across the city, while identifying actionable steps and opportunities for improvement. Priorities include addressing climate change, restoring the natural environment, and meeting the economic and social needs of city residents. The plan will include advanced climate adaptation strategies, community development and equity to build a thriving future for all residents.
St. Louis Regional Climate Action Plan being led by East-West Gateway is developing a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan for the St. Louis metro area. This plan will help coordinate regional efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other harmful pollutants, and track progress towards these goals through GHG inventories. The plan will identify practical strategies for reducing emissions from buildings, transportation, waste, and land use, while supporting economic development, public health, and environmental quality. Priority actions will target building energy use and transportation as the largest source of emissions.
St. Louis County’s Climate Action Plan will set a baseline for greenhouse gas emissions in the County and identify community vulnerabilities. Evaluating how different neighborhood contexts influence vulnerability to hazards like flooding and extreme heat, the plan will provide actionable steps for strengthening resilience.
Even at a time of significant flux, local efforts here in the St. Louis region are going strong and have placed equity and resilience at the core of long-term goals. That’s something to celebrate. Let’s keep up the good work being done here and if you have capacity, look for ways to get involved.