News

Chicago Announces Environmental Agenda, C3

During an Earth Week event at a windy, sunny Daley Plaza, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley announced an ambitious Environmental Action Agenda for 2006. The Agenda focused on sustainability issues, and included committing the city to building all its new buildings at a minimum LEED Silver level, retrofitting its 105 fire stations for energy efficiency, and using 100 percent recycled materials in residential street construction. It also advocates continued conservation work on the Chicago River and preservation of more than 350 acres in the Calumet region. Download the agenda.

The City also announced the creation of the Chicago Conservation Corps, or "C3," a program to harness the energies of volunteers across the city in projects that include removing invasive species from natural areas and restoring the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. "We see C3 growing into an enthusiastic grassroots network of hundreds of volunteer leaders from all of Chicago's 77 neighborhoods who will lead thousands of their neighbors in projects to enhance their neighborhood environments," said environment commissioner Sadhu Johnston. "As a result of these projects, tens of thousands of Chicagoans will begin bringing simple actions into their everyday lives that help to clean the air, care for thousands of acres of open space, save millions of gallons of water, and make affordable and renewable energy available to all." To learn more about participating in C3, call (312) 743-9283, or click here.