OUR VISION
AUSTIN IS A THRIVING, EQUITABLE, & ECOLOGICALLY RESILIENT COMMUNITY.
OUR MISSION
Protect and improve Austin's quality of life now and for future generations by leading efforts to achieve:
- net-zero community-wide greenhouse gas emissions
- a healthy and just local food system
- a climate resilient and adaptive city
WHO WE ARE
FOOD TEAM
1. EDWIN MARTY, Food Policy Manager
2. AMANDA ROHLICH, Senior Business Process Consultant
CLIMATE TEAM
3. ZACH BAUMER, Climate Program Manager
4. CAVAN MERSKI, Senior Analyst
5. LEWIS LEFF, Senior Business Process Consultant
6. MARC COUDERT, Environmental Program Manager
7. RODRIGO LEAL, Climate Resilience Associate
8. CELINE RENDON, USDN Equity Fellow
COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
9. AMY PETRI, Communications Manager
10. SHANNON WISNER, Digital Media Strategist
11. MARY K. PRIDDY, Education and Outreach Coordinator
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
12. PAULA CAMACHO, Administrative Assistant
TOP PROJECTS
Food Team
State of the Food System Report — Outlines the progress that has been made toward achieving a healthy and just local food system in Austin — from farm to fork. See the report>
Urban Roots Expansion — Helped facilitate a lease agreement to allow local non-profit Urban Roots to train youth to grow food on City-owned property.
Good Food Purchasing — Facilitated steps toward local and healthy food procurement practices with AISD, UT Austin, and the Austin Convention Center.
Climate Team
Climate Resilience Action Plan — Collaborated with 13 City departments to prepare City assets and operations for extreme weather-related impacts. See the plan>
Getting to Net-Zero Analysis — created a model of greenhouse gas reduction potential and costs for actions in the Austin Community Climate Plan.
Custom Utility Dashboard — Designed a utility bill oversight tool for City building managers to help them spot potential spikes in usage and cost.
Communications Team
Austin's First Climate Change Awareness Month — Hosted a community-wide carbon reduction challenge with Mayor Adler and screened a simulcast from Project Drawdown in October.
Bright Green Future Grant Promotion — Produced a series of videos about the Bright Green Future Grant Program to help increase the number and diversity of grant applications. Watch the main video>
Talk Green to Me Series Live on Social Media — Held three sustainability-related talks at the Central Library that were live-streamed on Facebook to reach a larger audience.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Climate Change Awareness Month
Mayor Steve Adler proclaimed October as the first ever Climate Change Awareness Month in Austin, kicking off a series of awareness-related activities and events. As part of the effort, our office hosted the Mayor's Carbon Reduction Challenge using the Rethink/ mobile app, and Austinites surpassed our greenhouse gas reduction goal by over 30,000 pounds of CO2. Our top winner was Jesus Garcia (pictured here), who won an electric bike for his efforts.
During October, we also hosted a Reddit AMA session, live-streamed a Project Drawdown keynote address at the Alamo Drafthouse, and celebrated our community challenge winners with a proclamation at City Hall.
2018 BY THE MONTH
Bright Green Future School Grants
The Bright Green Future Grants Program provides funding for school-based sustainability projects at Austin-area schools. Projects like composting systems, rainwater harvesting, organic gardens, rain gardens, bicycle academies, and wildlife habitats are identified by local educators and through campus EcoAudits. Projects that are selected to receive funding actively engage students and members of the community with hands-on involvement and learning. Here's a look at what was accomplished through the program for the 2017-18 school year:
Map of project locations:
In 2018, 64 projects* were funded at Austin-area K-12 schools.
28,763 students participated in a sustainable project at their school campus.
*Includes funding for EcoAudit projects managed by EcoRise
Urban Roots Youth Leadership
In December 2018, City Council approved a lease for Urban Roots at the City-owned Winnebago property, ensuring that sustainably-grown food, youth leadership development, open space, and equity all have a place in Austin's future.
This five-year-long effort was shepherded by the City's Food Policy Manager Edwin Marty, and involved countless other staff from various City departments and community groups.
Photo by: Urban Roots
Public Outreach & Engagement
254,068 people reached through digital channels
74 community events and sessions attended
12,639 people reached at
community events and sessions
AWARDS
2018 Platinum Award for Climate Change in Austin video, Hermes Creative Awards
Smart Cities 2018 Smart 50 Award for Electric Drive (led by Austin Energy)
Austin Green Awards Project of the Year for the Austin Central Library (led by Austin Public Library)
NET-ZERO HERO CAMPAIGN
12 Community members featured on our blog
524 Social media "likes" on Net-Zero Hero content
Austin Green Business Leaders
