Creating A ROAD MAP FOR Sustainable Living, Working & Building IN THE CHATTANOOGA REGION - An IntegrateD Community Sustainability Plan
In 2009, Chattanooga published the first Climate Action Plan for the City. Over the past 10 years, over 90% of the goals and objectives set out have been accomplished! Some of those projects include:
Community Solar Share
Electric Vehicle & Bike Sharing
Reducing Building Energy & Water Usage
Adding Green Infrastructure Projects
But as we confront a wide range of challenges from climate-related and economy-related risks, and envision a resilient, thriving community that can respond to them, we have much more to accomplish! In early 2019, green|spaces began facilitating an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan for the Chattanooga region continue to take bold and meaningful steps toward reducing our impact on climate change, consider the need to adapt to changing environmental and social conditions, and incorporate ecological design to build local living economies. Over 50 stakeholders served on six committees to research our local sustainability challenges as well as best practices from around the world. They have drafted high level long term goals along with a series of underlying goals, strategies, and tactics. We are seeking your feedback on the recommendations and support moving forward as we continue this process to make the Chattanooga region a resilient and equitable place for all.
We NEED YOU to Help Us Create the Plan!
Missed our recent Lunch & Learn? Learn about where we are in the planning process and provide your feedback to us!
ENERGY
WATER
Water draft Recommendation:
Eliminate human contributed contamination in our watersheds.
Potential Strategies:
• Establish Green Infrastructure Committee to support ongoing analysis of scorecards and mapping
• Creek of the Week Public Watershed Awareness Campaign
• Use data from IGT Lab and Thrive to support work in Chattanooga
• Use art to drive positive influence messaging
• Create public/private partnerships for regular creek cleanup work days
Energy Draft Recommendation:
Establish a science-based long term carbon goal with intermediate milestones and ongoing measurement.
Potential Strategies:
• Update baseline (in process)
• Establish Green Bank for clean energy and energy efficiency financing with focus on vulnerable communities
• Develop programs to encourage vehicle electrification
MOBILITY
RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
RESILIENT Communities Draft recommendation:
Achieve a sustainable, just, and socially equitable city in which residents have a meaningful voice.
Potential Strategies:
Create a housing directory/report
• Establish Community Development Corporations and enhance Resident-led Organizations with the tools to advance neighborhood plans & to proactively plan for development
• Create cooperatives for businesses that are needed but unavailable or unaffordable
• Identify projects & partners to utilize opportunity zone funds
• Reduce blight with redevelopment plan and land bank
• Identify projects for Healthy Connected Chattanooga
MOBILITY Draft Recommendation:
Create Frictionless Transit.
potential Strategies:
• Increase electric vehicle use.
• Create Car Free Zones
• Move to Zero Fare
• Create a Vision Zero Plan (Zero Traffic Deaths)
• Provide bike/pedestrian safety enforcement education
• Create Dedicated Bus Lanes
• Evaluate the benefits and implement micro-mobility options
• Develop standards to support autonomous vehicle growth
• Create circular connector
ECOSYSTEMS
MATERIALS AND WASTE
MATERIALS AND Waste Draft recommendation:
Achieve Zero Waste by 2030.
Potential strategies:
• Evaluate current waste management system
• Establish a public advocacy campaign to examine the entire lifecycle of common products instead of just the end
• Education and Advocacy in Hamilton County Schools for consumption and waste reduction
• Study refrigerant management and mitigation options
• Bring currently fragmented waste businesses and county officials together for a conversation on increasing waste efficiencies
• State of the Landfill analysis
• Establish Compost Facility
• Identify & Access Food Recapture Programs
• Explore Innovations in C&D Waste Streams
• Identify State Wide Policies to support – TN Bottle Bill
• Join the TN Materials Marketplace
EcoSystems Draft Recommendation:
For Biodiversity: Become an anti-extinction community with a focus on native regeneration.
For Food Systems: Create Multi-scale systems to support equitable food production and distribution
Potential Strategies:
For Biodiversity:
• Establish a baseline biodiversity report
• Establish a vegetation certificate
• Increase number of native species on city approved trees/shrubs list
• Establish best practices for integrating carbon capture into the urban landscape including species selection and soil health
• Grants for citizen science projects
• Establish specific city-sanctioned seed
• Join Biophilic Cities
For Food Systems:
• Establish a baseline report on the state of food systems in Chattanooga
• Establish policies for community gardens
• Establish a land bank for communities to cheaply
rent/purchase vacant or underutilized land
• Work with Chattanooga Visitor’s Bureau, TN Tourism board,
TN Parks & Recreation to establish a marketing
strategy for Chattanooga as a “food city”
• Work with surrounding rural areas to develop a regional
plan for agritourism
• Complete a Food Chain Analysis
Funding for the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan is provided by The Kendeda Fund