Chicago Updating its Climate Action Plan for 2022

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Earth Day announced the forthcoming release of a new plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare communities for the effects of climate change.

2 minute read

April 28, 2022, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Chicago Transit Authority Green Line Train at 35th-Bronzeville-IIT

JP Vielma / Shutterstock

The office of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot recently launched a 2022 Climate Action Plan, promising “to reduce carbon emissions while also increasing household savings, advancing environmental justice, and improving community health.”

John Greenfield reports on the new climate action plan for the city of Chicago, first noting Mayor Lightfoot’s less-than-stellar record on climate change action: “Given that Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot recently called our multi-modal metropolis ‘a car city,’ and is currently advancing a plan to spend $7.5 million in taxpayer money on free gas cards, in effect paying people to create more greenhouse emissions, you could be forgiven for assuming that she doesn’t give a hoot about climate change."

As explained by Greenfield, Mayor Lightfoot’s a Climate Action Plan hasn’t actually been released in full, but the announcement was timed for Earth Day, so that explains the preemptory announcement. Plenty of work on the final plan has already taken place, however, including listening sessions, town halls, and a public comment period.

As reported by Greenfield, the 2022 Climate Action Plan will be built around five pillars: 1) lowering energy costs and implementing renewable energy for household consumption, 2) reducing waste, 3) creating a zero-emission transportation system, 4) committing to 100 percent clean energy for city operations by 2025 and for the entire city by 2035, and 5) investing in community resilience projects and implementing health and racial criteria in decision making.

The most obvious intersection with planning in that list is probably the zero-emission transportation system goal. Greenfield explains that the goal will include electrifying the city’s bus fleet and building 100 miles of upgraded bike ways in 2021 and 2022.

Friday, April 22, 2022 in Streetsblog Chicago

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

View of passengers on transit bus at night.

Opinion: Transit Agencies Must View Service Cuts as Last Resort

Reducing service could cripple transit systems by pushing more riders to consider car ownership, making future recovery even less certain.

30 minutes ago - Bloomberg CityLab

Man sitting on bench sillhouetted against golden hour trees in tranquil park.

‘Smart Surfaces’ Policy Guide Offers Advice for Building and Maintaining Urban Tree Canopies

Healthy, robust tree canopies can reduce the impacts of extreme heat and improve air quality.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of gold-covered New Jersey state capitol dome in Trenton, New Jersey at dusk.

New Jersey Lawsuit Targets Rent-Setting Algorithms

The state of New Jersey is taking legal action against landlords and companies that engage in what the state’s Attorney General alleges is illegal rent fixing.

2 hours ago - New Jersey Monitor