Government Programs To understand how the government supports green infrastructure, we reviewed climate-related plans and available funding on the local, state, and federal levels. Plans we reviewed included the City of Chicago’s 2022 Climate Action Plan (CAP)12, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)’s ON TO 2050 Plan13, and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago 2021-2025 Plan14, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Region 5 Climate Plan15, and the EPA’s Plan for FY 2022-2026.16 Funding sources run the gamut from the United States Department of Transportation to Chicago’s Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD). Find information on specific climate-related plans here and a comprehensive list of funding sources with links here From the goals, strategies, and actions featured in relevant plans, we identified five themes: 1. Promotion of Sustainable and Healthy Buildings was listed as a top strategy for reducing emissions. Actions include the retrofitting of existing buildings, energy efficiency and decarbonization, electrification, and/or the improvement of building construction standards. Air quality of homes, pollution, and exposure to radon was also a concern. 2. Water Management including stormwater management, drinking water management, and protection of waterways. 3. Solid Waste Management, which is identified as important for the promotion of circular economy as well as the safeguarding and revitalization of communities. This includes residential, industrial, commercial, institutional, organic, and other types of waste, as well as recycling programs. 4. Solar Panels and Renewable Energy, with goals centered around the installation of solar panels on both city and privately-owned roofs. 5. Enhancement of Infrastructure for Alternative Modes of Transportation, with a focus on enhancing infrastructure for modes of transportation including walking, biking, and public transportation. It also aims to electrify transit and fleets. 6. Greening Efforts and Natural Areas Management, including promotion of native species, expansion of parks and green spaces, and site-scale green infrastructure in hardscapes such as transportation right-of-way and non-parkland green spaces. The Landscape of Green Infrastructure in Chicago
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