The Evanston City Council on Monday voted 8-0 to adopt a resolution supporting environmental justice in Evanston, acknowledging the harm that communities of color have experienced due to environmental injustices and outlining specific, corrective actions the City will take to support and protect the health and well-being of all residents.

Developed in collaboration with Environmental Justice Evanston, Citizens’ Greener Evanston (CGE), and the City's Equity and Empowerment Commission and Environment Board, the resolution defines environmental justice as “when every resident experiences the same degree of access to environmental assets, protection from environmental hazards and health risks, and an opportunity to play an effective role in making decisions that affect the quality of life in this community.”

To achieve environmental justice, the resolution calls for the City to:

• Incorporate environmental justice into City ordinances, codes, policies and processes in consultation with stakeholders
• Create a meaningful public engagement policy and decision making process in collaboration with the City's Equity and Empowerment Commission
• Develop and maintain a geographic information system (GIS) inventory of environmental justice areas in Evanston, defined as regions where there are likely to be disparities in access to environmental assets or exposure to hazards

In adopting the resolution, the City Council took the first step towards fulfilling an action of the City’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP), which calls for the adoption of an environmental justice ordinance that builds on the work of Environmental Justice Evanston and the Equity and Empowerment Commission.

"Evanston recognizes the increased, adverse impacts of the climate crisis on vulnerable populations, including communities of color," said Mayor Stephen Hagerty. "I'm proud of Environmental Justice Evanston, the Evanston City Council, City staff, and our community partners for leading the effort to draft and adopt this important resolution. Addressing racial equity within the climate crisis will result in a stronger and more climate resilient Evanston."  

For more information about CARP, visit cityofevanston.org/climate or call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents may simply dial 311 in Evanston.