CHICAGO (Oct. 26, 2026) — The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (Caucus) will be recognized by Illinois Green Alliance at the organization’s annual Limelight Celebration on Nov. 12. Illinois Green Alliance is honoring the Caucus with the Organizational Emerald Award for its “decades of impact made possible by bringing communities together to advance climate action and sustainability.”
In its announcement, Illinois Green’s reasons for selecting the Caucus for this award went on to say:
The Caucus brings communities together to collaborate on sustainability and building decarbonization. Examples include leading three cohorts of communities to SolSmart designation for streamlining solar codes and policies (top photo) and organizing monthly Environment Committee meetings for mayors and other municipal officials to collaborate on sustainability, including a past tour of the Climate Action Museum (bottom photo).
“Through initiatives such as the Greenest Region Compact (GRC), it has created a framework for communities to set and implement coordinated environmental, economic, and social sustainability goals—and the GRC is the largest regional collaborative for municipalities in the country. This collaboration allowed the Caucus to create the first climate action plan for the Chicago region as one of only three US regions in partnership with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy and European Union.
The impact of their work is tangible. The Caucus has helped drive energy-saving retrofits in roughly half of participating municipal public facilities and led more than 50 communities to streamline codes and policies to advance local solar development and EV readiness throughout Northeastern Illinois. Its sustainability fellows and volunteers have contributed more than 45,000 hours of work, helping municipalities accomplish 820 localized sustainability objectives, from greenhouse gas inventories to recycling programs. By providing tools, expertise, peer connections, and capacity many communities would not otherwise have, the Caucus has transformed a collection of individual local efforts into a coordinated regional movement and a model for municipalities across Illinois.”
Illinois Green launched its Limelight Celebration in 2008 to recognize the region’s top achievements and outstanding volunteers in sustainability. This year’s event will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 12 at the Union League Club of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago. Limelight will bring together a diverse network of industry leaders in the sustainability field. Join the Caucus at the event and other organizations that will be celebrated for their achievements in green building innovation, design, and technology. Register for Limelight here.
Illinois Green Alliance is a membership-driven, community-centered nonprofit that works collaboratively to promote green buildings and sustainable communities for all. Its network of sustainability professionals believes green buildings are important to improving the quality of life for everyone in the state.
About the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is a membership organization of the Chicago region’s 275 cities, towns and villages. Founded in 1997, the Caucus pushes past geographical boundaries and local interests to work on public policy issues. The organization provides a forum for metropolitan Chicago’s chief elected officials to collaborate on common problems and work toward a common goal of improving the quality of life for the millions of people who call the region home. For more information, visit our homepage at mayorscaucus.org, and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
