TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF MAY 4, 2023
COMMITTEE ON MONITORING AND RESEARCH
Mr. Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Title
Adoption of the Climate Action Plan of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Body
The Climate Action Plan (CAP) of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) is a comprehensive document that memorializes the organization’s commitment to the environment by presenting a road map to help navigate our initiatives to align with the Paris Agreement for reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). Work on this plan was started in 2019, with an interdepartmental task force whose goal was to account for the organization’s GHG emissions and identify a strategy to make incremental changes to reduce the District’s carbon footprint. The development of the plan required the task force to be flexible and adjust, as the science and legislation evolved significantly over this development timeframe.
The CAP was open for public comments from July 8, 2022, to August 8, 2022, and the District received comments from 15 different groups representing individuals, government agencies, educational institutions, private business, and current District employees. The comments and suggestions from the public and the Board of Commissioners (Board) were used to further strengthen the plan.
The updated CAP aligns with the District’s Strategic Plan, the latest scientific recommendations on climate change from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, adoption of environmental justice principles to mitigate climate change impacts, and benchmarking with other organizations. Additionally, the plan has incorporated relevant provisions of the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act of 2021, and the federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, that can help the District achieve its goals related to enterprise resilience. Overall, the development of this plan shows that the District is committed to taking a comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to addressing climate change and ensuring that its operations are resilient in the face of future challenges.
The CAP will have an update cycle that will follow the District’s Strategic Planning process, wherein the CAP will be updated within a year of updating the Strategic Plan to ensure alignment with the District’s priorities.
The CAP is to be effective upon adoption. Once adopted by the Board, staff will work to publish the plan to a webpage on the District’s website designed around the CAP.
Accordingly, it is respectfully requested that the Executive Director recommend to the Board of Commissioners that it approve and adopt the attached Climate Action Plan.
Requested, Edward W. Podczerwinski, Director of Monitoring and Research, EWP:RA:JSG:KK:mb/ae
Recommended, Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Respectfully Submitted, Eira L. Corral Sepúlveda, Chairman Committee on Monitoring and Research
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for May 4, 2023
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