"Green Cincinnati Plan"

     Upon further research into the area of my hometown's (Cincinnati) efforts to battle climate change, it was revealed that it does in fact have its own city wide climate change plan.  It is effectively called the Green Cincinnati Plan.  It is reportedly one of over 1,000 U.S. cities which have implemented programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and try to reverse the effects of climate change.
    ( http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/oeq/citywide-efforts/climate-protection-green-cincinnati-plan/) This is the Cincinnati governmental website which outlines the major prospects of the plan.  The plan outlines more than 80 different ways the city plans on tackling the climate change problem.  According the website, some of the initiatives include LEED buildings in Cincinnati, retrofitting the energy systems in more than 40 city government buildings, incorporating climate change into the science curricula in Cincinnati Public Schools, renewable energy installations, free parking for electric cars, city hybrid buses, and urban agriculture on vacant city lots.  It also establishes greenhouse gas emission goals: 8% within 4 years, 40% within 20 years, and 84% by 2050.  All in all a 84% reduction in a 42 year period, since the plan went into effect in 2008.
     I think these initiatives are a very good step in the right direction.  The best thing local governments can do is set an example for the community.  Even though the plan did not make a direct mention of coal from what I could see, reducing to even eliminating coal as a fuel source will ultimately be the biggest hurdle in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  I read recently that Los Angeles has made the claim that it will be coal-free by 2025.  It would be nice to see Cincinnati do the same.
     One of the initiatives I like most is the part about climate change information being taught more in the Cincinnati Public School system and a city wide summit on climate change held once a year.  One of the most useful tools for battling climate change is education.  The more people who know it is a serious threat, the more people will be likely to participate in voluntary initiatives.  Which is helpful seeing as most of Cincinnati's initiatives are in fact voluntary.
     According to an EPA article about the Green Cincinnati Plan, (http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/local/showcase/green-cincinnati.html) there are some positive updates after the first 4 years of the Plan.  Partnering with the Green Umbrella, a Cincinnati sustainability group, the city is advertising the Plan through news and other media, as well as beginning a campaign to support the purchasing of more local produce and other food.  There has also been a 6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.  The city has also worked with educators to distribute Climate Control Toolkits to local schools.  Overall, these initiative are all good steps in the right direction.  And as long as public support continues to rise and GHG emissions continue to decline, Cincinnati will continue to be a leader in Ohio in addressing the major challenges of climate change.

Works Cited:
"Green Cincinnati Plan", Office of Environmental Quality, accessed March 29, 2013. http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/oeq/citywide-efforts/climate-protection-green-cincinnati-plan.

"The Green Cincinnati Plan", Environmental Protection Agency, accessed March 29, 2013. http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/local/showcase/green-cincinnati.html