Climate Action Plan: 'It has some soul to it'

Mike Emery, Richmond Palladium-Item
·5 min read

RICHMOND, Ind. — Former Mayor Sally Hutton signed the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement in 2007.

During the ensuing 15 years, the city established an Environmental Sustainability Commission, participated in a Greenhouse Gas Inventory, conducted a Hoosier Resilience Index Readiness Assessment survey, developed its Richmond Rising: Community Action Plan and adopted a climate resolution proposed by a Youth Climate Action Team. Both Richmond Rising and the six-point climate resolution included developing a Climate Action Plan.

Now, that, too, has been accomplished.

It was presented Monday as a resolution to Richmond Common Council, which referred it to the Richmond Advisory Plan Commission. The plan commission will accept public input about the plan during its 5:30 p.m. July 27 meeting in third-floor council chambers of the Richmond Municipal Building, 50 N. Fifth St. The plan commission will decide its recommendation and return the Climate Action Plan to council for a final vote.

The plan, which includes the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Hoosier Resilience Index Readiness Assessment survey results as appendices, is available online through a link on the city's website, richmondindiana.gov.

"It has characteristics uniquely suited for Richmond," said Grayson Hart, vice chair of the city's Environmental Sustainability Commission. "It has some soul to it."

The Environmental Sustainability Commission developed adaptation approaches and strategies to address weaknesses that expected temperature and precipitation increases will stress, said Hart, the city's GIS coordinator. It also provided mitigation approaches and strategies to lower greenhouse gas emissions and protect environmental quality.

Each strategy — 29 among the six adaptation approaches and 38 among seven mitigation approaches — includes its priority level, timeline, cost, additional community benefits and potential partners.

"It's an easy-to-navigate buffet of effectual strategies to improve the quality of life in Richmond as a response to the larger problem of climate change," said Hart, noting that the adaptation strategies separate Richmond's Climate Action Plan from those other communities have developed.

The six adaptation approaches include:

  • Adapt the built environment;

  • Prepare economic development practices for a changing climate;

  • Prepare emergency management systems for future stresses;

  • Prepare energy and utilities for a changing climate;

  • Adopt more sustainable planning and land-use policies; and

  • Adapt public health safety process.

Each approach lists between three and seven specific strategies. Of those 29 strategies, 10 were given top priority.

The high-priority strategies address infrastructure such as roads and bridges, the storm-water system; the power supply; vegetation protection areas; and financial planning to fund readiness actions.

The seven greenhouse mitigation approaches include:

  • Decarbonize energy generation;

  • Increase energy efficiency;

  • Efficiently manage solid waste;

  • Reduce annual vehicular miles traveled;

  • Increase efficiency of vehicles;

  • Efficiently manage potable water; and

  • Efficiently manage liquid waste.

Each approach includes between two and 11 specific strategies, including six of the 38 given the highest priority.

Those top-priority strategies involve building renewable energy, increasing rates and options for recycling, developing multi-modal transportation options and infrastructure and advocating for a high-level vehicle efficiency policy.

Lessening greenhouse gas emissions within Richmond serve a world-wide purpose regarding climate change, Hart said, but also have local benefits. Cleaner air could lessen some residents' respiratory problems, and walking or riding a bicycle instead of driving could improve health.

"These things improve everything people care about in one way or another," Hart said. "Think about how they will improve the quality of life and make this a better place to live, work and play."

Although the Climate Action Plan addresses warming temperatures, it is separate from the city's developing Heat Management Plan. That plan is in draft form, according to Lucy Mellen, the city's grant-funded heat relief coordinator, and will come before Common Council in the coming months.

The draft that includes 24 strategies to lower air temperature and better prepare the community for high summer heat, is available to read online from the city's Beat the Heat webpage, richmondindiana.gov/resources/beat-the-heat.

Mellen said the Heat Management Plan and Climate Action Plan work in tandem to address climate issues impacting Richmond's residents. On its Facebook page, the city stressed heat-related information last week for Beat the Heat Week.

One aspect of the Heat Management Plan, a check-in system, has rolled out as a pilot program. It involves signing up to receive Beat the Heat text messages when heat waves occur. The texts provide heat-related tips and local resources to assist with cooling. Visit www.tinyurl.com/richmondcheckin or call 765-983-7333 to register for the program.

An online Heat Preparedness Toolbox has also been launched. Visit it at drive.google.com/drive/folders/1V_gCgaKdLdTWEGyyild1Gkdb5uagbxFN?usp=sharing.

Other efforts planned this summer include a public heat-health workshop 3 p.m. Aug. 11, and the upcoming distribution of cool kits to residents vulnerable to the year's hottest months.

Both the Heat Management and Climate Action plans include city government actions as well as elements individual residents might address. Hart said that residents will find strategies within the Climate Action Plan that they think are important. If possible, they can follow the strategies themselves, or they can advocate for those elements with city officials.

The time spent working toward the Climate Action Plan, not just the past couple of years but the past 15, provides it weight from expert and public input. The plan's construction follows in-depth studies and analysis.

"I think the plan speaks for itself," Hart said. "I think everything is justified."

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Climate Action Plan: 'It has some soul to it'