Office of Environment & Sustainability

Goals

1) MAKE ALL CITY FACILITIES, FLEETS, AND OPERATIONS NET CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2035.
2) DECREASE HOUSEHOLD ENERGY BURDEN BY 10%.
3) INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF CITY STREETS MEETING COMPLETE STREETS REQUIREMENTS BY 1% EACH YEAR (CENTER-LANE MILES).

Recommendations

1) Create a Sustainability District (such as 2030 District).
2) Encourage population density and transit-oriented development in appropriate locations through zoning and incentives.
3) Improve City Facilities by investing in energy efficiency - specifically HVAC and lighting.
4) Encourage development of high-performance buildings.
5) Incorporate complete street principles in all new roadway and rehabilitation projects.
6) Target multi-family properties for energy efficiency improvements.
7) Require all new city facilities are LEED Silver or better.
8) Develop plan to return vacant buildings to productive use.
9) Require or incentivize Low Impact Development for new developments and infrastructure.
10) Implement a Coordinated Site Plan Review Process.
11) Plan to phase out HVAC systems using R-22.

Goals

1) REGISTER 100 BUSINESSES IN A GREEN BUSINESS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.
2) ESTABLISH $1M IN A GREEN CINCINNATI FUND TO ADVANCE SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES.
3) INCREASE BY 10% THE NUMBER OF CITY RESIDENTS THAT CAN NAME AT LEAST 3 ACTIONS THEY ARE DOING TO BE GREEN/PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY.

Recommendations

1) Install solar panels on Cincinnati Public Schools facilities.
2) Outreach to multi-family buildings to educate residents of sustainability programs and benefits.
3) Create a "Green Cincinnati Fund" to finance sustainability initiatives.
4) Develop a Green Business/Neighborhood Certification program.
5) City-University-Corporate Partnership for Education and Training.
6) Create branding and communication strategy for Cincinnati sustainability efforts.
7) Identify partners to lobby state government on sustainability issues.
8) Build partnerships with existing business incubators to include sustainability training.
9) Expand environmental education and experiences for CPS students and others.

Goals

1) 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR GOVERNMENT BY 2035.
2) TRIPLE RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
3) REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION 2% ANNUALLY.

Recommendations

1) Increase outreach to and participation of industrial customers in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
2) Implement programs to increase solar energy generation for the private market (e.g. Solarize, PACE financing).
3) Improve access to financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy, especially for low income households.
4) Purchase renewable energy credits for City operations.
5) Increase solar energy generation for use by City Government.
6) 100% LED Streetlights.
7) Implement mandatory energy benchmarking ordinance.
8) Increase battery storage capacity.
9) Lobby State government to encourage renewable energy generation.

Goals

1) 100% OF RESIDENTS HAVE CONVENIENT ACCESS TO HEALTHY, AFFORDABLE FOODS.
2) REDUCE FOOD WASTE BY 20% BY 2025.
3) TRIPLE ACREAGE OF URBAN FOOD PRODUCTION.
4) DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS CONSUMING LOCAL FOODS.
5) DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EATING PLANT BASED DIETS.

Recommendations

1) Encourage individuals and companies to prevent, recover, and recycle wasted food.
2) Promote understanding of the impact of dietary choices and benefits of a plant based diet.
3) Create policies and support programs that encourage urban agriculture.
4) Increase the public and private land set aside for local food production.
5) Encourage the development and utilization of food hubs, and increase the distribution and processing of locally, sustainably produced foods.
6) Support/Promote the work of organizations that increase accessibility, affordability, and consumption of healthful foods for vulnerable populations.
7) Encourage and support development of local food system entrepreneurs to increase production and distribution of locally produced foods.
8) Support strategies for ensuring food security in ALL communities throughout Cincinnati.
9) Encourage purchasing of healthy sustainable foods by major institutions.

Goals

1) ATTAIN 100% OF US EPA NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS.
2) INCREASE CITY-WIDE TREE CANOPY COVERAGE TO 40%, ENSURE ALL RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS TO 30% TREE CANOPY COVERAGE.
3) MEET EPA RECREATIONAL WATER QUALITY CRITERIA IN 90% OF CINCINNATI WATERWAYS, 90% OF THE TIME.
4) HAVE A PARK OR OUTDOOR RECREATION SITE WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK OF EVERY CITY RESIDENT.

Recommendations

1) Implement water loss control program to reduce water loss due to leakage.
2) Increase tree canopy and access to greenspace.
3) Create and expand wetlands.
4) Develop a carbon offset program to fund tree planting efforts.
5) Decrease the acreage of mowed grass and replace with bushes and trees.
6) Increase the amount of storm water holding capacity using green infrastructure and natural systems.
7) Develop an Air Quality Action Plan.
8) Conduct Biodiversity assessment for Cincinnati.

Goals

1) 50% DECREASE IN CHILDHOOD ASTHMA-RELATED HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS IN TARGET NEIGHBORHOODS. REDUCE DISPARITIES BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS.
2) NO INCREASE IN STORM OR HEAT RELATED FATALITIES.
3) NO INCREASE IN STORM DAMAGE REMEDIATION COSTS.

Recommendations

1) Launch campaign to reduce childhood asthma rates in Cincinnati.
2) Develop multi-lingual communication network for disseminating risks and recommendations in the event of emergency (e.g Rave).
3) Conduct Neighborhood Vulnerability Assessment.
4) Climate Haven - Prepare Cincinnati to receive climate refugees.
5) Encourage onsite stormwater retention and infiltration and discourage runoff by restructuring sewer and/or stormwater fee.
6) Conduct Urban Heat Island Assessment.
7) Implement renewable backup power systems for areas of refuge and emergency facilities (911 center, recreation centers, hospitals).
8) Educate the public to reduce harms from intense storms and heat waves.
9) Require occupied residential units to have one air-conditioned room.
10) Continue to improve MSD's smart sewer SCADA system.
11) The City should develop an Environmental Justice program that identifies communities that are disproportionately burdened by pollution (and hazardous wastes), and acts to reduce or eliminate those burdens.

Goals

1) DECREASE THE CONSUMPTION OF FOSSIL FUELS, INCLUDING GAS, DIESEL, AND NATURAL GAS BY 20%.
2) INCREASE THE PASSENGER MILES TRAVELLED VIA PUBLIC TRANSIT BY 25% BY 2035.
3) DOUBLE LANE MILES OF BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE.

Recommendations

1) Accelerate the adoption of autonomous vehicles, starting with a pilot project.
2) Encourage the use of electric vehicles through city programs that incentivize EV ownership and infrastructure.
3) Pursue car sharing service in Cincinnati as an equitable mobility solution.
4) Green the Fleet: Improve the fuel efficiency of the City’s Fleet.
5) Encourage corporate sponsorship of transit passes and infrastructure to encourage employee bus and bikeshare ridership.
6) Improve neighborhood walkability, by improving sidewalk connectivity and pedestrian safety, especially in low-income neighborhoods.
7) Police enforcement & legislative support for bike & pedestrian safety.
8) Enhance public transit and increase transit funding.
9) Increase interconnectivity and cohesion within multimodal transportation options.
10) Create a transit link between Downtown and Uptown.
11) Implement and update 2010 Cincinnati Bike Plan and Cincinnati Riding or Walking Network (CROWN) Plan.
12) Continue to support Red Bike (bike share) as an equitable mobility solution.

Goals

1) ZERO WASTE BY 2035.
2) DECREASE (RESIDENTIAL) TONNAGE TO LANDFILL BY 20%.
3) INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN CITY CURBSIDE RECYCLING PROGRAMS - 5% IN RESIDENTIAL AND 20% IN COMMERCIAL.

Recommendations

1) Increase cost of trash generation to encourage diversion from landfill.
2) Divert organics from the landfill.
3) Attract credible manufacturers that make products from recycled materials to increase the types of materials that can be accepted in curbside recycling program.
4) Advertising and outreach to improve recycling rates - spending $1/household/month - Focus efforts on currently lower performing communities.
5) Create recycling and reuse outlets to recycle items that cannot be accepted by the curbside program.
6) Implement a special event recycling program. Require recycling at any events that require a City permit.
7) Install public recycling receptacles in neighborhood business districts.
8) Implementation of a fee or ban to discourage use of single-use bags.
9) Improve recycling and waste reduction in City facilities.
10) Conduct waste audit to understand the changing composition of our waste stream.