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Since the release of our last e-newsletter, the Office of Sustainability has undergone some organizational changes due to the pension-driven budget cuts for Fiscal Year 2019-20. At the beginning of July, the Office of Sustainability was rolled into the Office of Advanced Planning (now called the Office of Advanced Planning and Sustainability). The newly merged Office and its two Sustainability staff members (Natalie Vezina and Julie Donna) are continuing all of Louisville Metro’s sustainability initiatives and programs under the direction of Gretchen Milliken.
For questions about these changes, please contact Natalie.Vezina@louisvilleky.gov or Julie.Donna@louisvilleky.gov .
At the youth-led climate strike on September 20, 2019, Mayor Greg Fischer declared a climate emergency to recognize the urgency to halt, reverse, mitigate, and prepare for the consequences of climate change and restore the climate for future generations. Hundreds of Louisville students, parents, concerned citizens, and politicians joined cities around the world in a day of global protest to demand action on climate change.
Emissions Reduction Plan
To help meet Louisville Metro's target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, the Office of Advanced Planning and Sustainability plans to release a Draft Emissions Reduction Plan by Friday, October 25. The Plan will be available online for public comment until the end of November.
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Louisville Metro is increasing its resilience to extreme weather through the Prepare Louisville campaign, which launched in March 2019 and includes developing a Climate Adaptation Plan to reduce current and future risks. In less than 10 minutes, you can take this brief survey to share your concerns about climate change and help shape the plan. The last day to complete the survey is Friday, November 8.
To learn more about how climate change is impacting Louisville, you can watch this 3-minute video or read this scientific report.
The Office of Advanced Planning and Sustainability's Cool Roof Rebate Program still has funding available for properties located in Metro Council Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 14 and 15. The program aims to combat urban warming and reduce energy costs for districts significantly impacted by the City’s urban heat island. The rebate provides up to $1 per square foot of cool roof that is installed with an ENERGY STAR roofing product. Rebates are available for both residential and commercial buildings and offered on a first come, first served basis.
Please join the Louisville Sustainability Council for its 6th Annual Sustainability Summit at the Louisville Zoo on November 1, 2019 from 3 - 7pm.
This year, the event will be co-hosted by the Louisville Metro Office of Advanced Planning and Sustainability and the Louisville Zoo, and will focus on celebrating wins, reflecting on changes, and tackling greenhouse gas emissions. The event will feature an opening musical act by the Mighty Shades of Ebony, keynote speaker Dr. Robert Brinkmann, and a local panel that will discuss how organizations are advancing their sustainability agenda.
For more details and to register, click here.
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CycLOUvia, Louisville’s Open Streets Program, will return to Bardstown Road on Sunday, October 20, 2019 from 2 - 6pm The popular event showcases alternative transit and is named in honor of former District 8 Councilman Tom Owen, a lifelong advocate for bicycles and pedestrians in our community.
CycLOUvia is your opportunity to experience Louisville as you never have before, by walking, cycling, skateboarding, or dancing in the street. Streets account for a massive amount of public land in all cities. CycLOUvia repurposes these public spaces by temporarily replacing traditional vehicular traffic with pedestrian traffic. Streets become paved parks where people of all ages, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds can come to improve their mental, physical, and emotional health.
Louisville Grows is offering a special Citizen Forester 101 Training session at the Twigs and Swigs event on Sunday, October 20 from 10am - 2pm in the Chickasaw Neighborhood. Through the Citizen Forestry 101 course, participants learn how to build and maintain our neighborhood and community forests. Participants are taught basic tree anatomy and physiology, environmental stewardship, tree planting skills and how to lead other volunteers in tree planting events.
Training is provided for individuals of all abilities, ages 12 years and older. The cost to attend is $25. A light breakfast, lunch, and Citizen Forester t-shirt are included. Scholarships are available upon request.
To sign up, click here.
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Against the Grain Brewery and Smokehouse is hosting the first annual Twigs and Swigs Party in partnership with TreesLouisville and Louisville Grows! Join them in their effort to raise awareness about their organizations and the work they do to increase Louisville’s tree canopy. They'll have live music (headlined by Ben Sollee!), local craft-beer, a pop-up market, and a silent auction to benefit both organizations.
When: Sunday, October 20th, 2- 8pm
Where: Against the Grain Brewery and Smokehouse, 401 E. Main St.
For event updates, click here.
Please join the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (APCD) on Monday, October 21, 2019 from 6 – 7:30 pm at the Louisville Free Public Library (301 York Street) for our October workshop: Ozone in Louisville Pt. 2. During this workshop APCD will delve deeper into the precursors that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone and the health impacts, share preliminary results from ACPD’s Ozone Formation Study and briefly discuss other ways APCD is working to further address air pollution exposure in Louisville. The workshop is free and open to the public.
For more information, please visit APCD's website or contact the office at (502) 574-6000.
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Please join Louisville Grows and Green Heart Louisville on Saturday, November 2, 2019 from 8:00am - 4:00pm as they dig toward their goal of planting 1,000 trees this season! Plantings will take place in the Taylor-Berry, Jacobs, Hazelwood, Beechmont, Oakdale, and Wilder Park neighborhoods.
They need 150 volunteers on the day of the planting. No experience is necessary - everyone is welcome to come play in the dirt. Our Citizen Foresters will be there to lead you in becoming a proper tree planter!
To register, click here.
Mark your calendars for the upcoming tree giveaway hosted by the Division of Community Forestry:
Saturday, November 16, 2019 at the Louisville Zoo Parking Lot, 1100 Trevilian Way, 9:00-11:00am
For more information about this event, click here.
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