CLEAN AIR COUNTS CAMPAIGN FOR CLEAN AIR AND DEVELOPMENT

1

• CLEAN AIR COUNTS CAMPAIGN FOR CLEAN AIR AND
  DEVELOPMENT

2
Who We Are

• Northeastern Illinois regional initiative.
• Partners include Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, US
  EPA Region 5, City of Chicago, and Illinois
  EPA.
• Funded in part through grants from private
  foundations.
• Outreach contracted through regional non-profit
  organizations.
• LEED Council, Delta Institute, Waste Management
  Research Center, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce,
  Center for Neighborhood Technology, Openlands

3
Campaign Goals

• Achieve better air quality while increasing
  economic development.
• Reduce VOC and NOx emissions by 5 tons per day.
• Evaluate how target audiences respond to
  voluntary strategies.
• Quantify results of voluntary implementation.

4
Why Voluntary Strategies?

• The most significant sources are often difficult
  to regulate.
• Requires education of and buy-in by stakeholders
  necessary to create systemic behavioral change.
• Cost-effective approach to emission reductions.

5
Cost of VOC Emission Reduction Strategies (5
tons/day)
6
Campaign Structure

• Business and public outreach coordinated through
  demonstration corridors.
• Outreach to area municipalities working through
  City of Chicago and Councils of Government.
• Sector specific pollution prevention.
• Technical assistance.

7
Benefits to Participation

• Grant opportunities to area municipalities.
• Technical assistance to implement strategies.
• Access to national experts.
• Pollution prevention, architectural, and energy
  efficiency assessments.
• Public recognition.

8
Lessons Learned

• Define target audience
• Geographically
• Sector specific
• Focus on a few strategies.
• Provide implementation assistance.
• To see results, outreach takes time and
  significant levels of recruitment.

9
Successful Implementation

• Develop a core of program stakeholders
• Business champions
• Government or political representative
• Work with organizations well respected in the
  business community.
• Education is the cornerstone of success.

10
Special Thanks to

• Senator Durbin and Congressman Kirk
• Chicago Community Trust
• Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
• Grand Victoria Foundation
• Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation
• John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

11
for further information

• Kate Agasie
• Director, Clean Air Initiatives
• Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
• [phone]
• kagasie_at_mayorscaucus.org