The international website, Apolitical, recognized the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and the Greenest Region Compact (GRC) in an article titled “A community approach to solving climate change.” The article details how the GRC expedites strategic local government action on sustainability. One hundred thirty-one communities have adopted the GRC, which makes it the largest regional sustainability collaborative in the country.
Promoting Solar Growth
The author of the Apolitical article, Gina Tedesco, went on to write how the Caucus helped 35 communities achieve SolSmart designation as a former SolSmart Advisor. Promoting solar aligns with the GRC goal to “advance renewable energy.” Some municipalities saw explosive growth in solar after achieving the designation. For example, Schaumburg noticed a 4300% increase in solar permits after receiving the SolSmart Silver designation. In addition to municipal success, the Caucus received national recognition for leading two cohorts of communities to achieve SolSmart designation: the 3i State and Local Government Initiative of the Year award from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the SolSmart Innovation Award from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the Solar Foundation.
Providing Sustainability Staffing
Additionally, the article mentioned the Greenest Region Corps (GRCorps) program that the Caucus started in 2018 with funding from AmeriCorps. The GRCorps program provides sustainability staffing to GRC communities in the form of AmeriCorps volunteers that work on sustainability projects for approximately 11 months. The GRCorps helped the Caucus to implement the GRC strategy to “dedicate staff to sustainability initiatives.”
Elevating Mayors
Finally, the GRC has given Mayors the opportunity to participate in high-profile environmental events, such as the North American Climate Summit in December 2017. City of Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, who is the Caucus Environment Committee Chairman, was one of 12 GRC community Mayors who attended the conference with leaders from across the continent, signed the Chicago Climate Charter, and the Apolitical writer also quotes Mayor Burns in the article.
Apolitical Article and Information
View the full article at the Apolitical website. Apolitical allows public sector workers to learn from one another and share best practices. Apolitical is based out of London and used by public servants from more than 150 countries.
