Why Isn’t There a Certified Climate Change Professional Working at Your Community?
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Kristina Murphy, CC-P
Civil Environmental Engineer
City of Naperville
Communities of all sizes around the country have passed resolutions to create or implement sustainability plans or climate action plans, and some have established aggressive climate or greenhouse gas goals. In most communities, these tasks are being worked on by staff in departments with no historical specialization in climate change, and quite often, in a disjointed manner.
Implementing these commitments requires a skillset that understands how all government operations interact. Establishing those commitments should have involved a substantial assessment of risk, opportunity, existing resources, future needs, and feasibility. Over the past few decades, community actions have evolved from initiatives like recycling, composting, and plastic bag fees to setting science based emission reduction goals, providing community solar and wind generators in the energy supply, establishing building performance standards, and ensuring equitable electric vehicle charging networks and energy efficient residences. The success of achieving these aspirations is highly dependent upon employing highly skilled professionals, providing them the mandate, authority, support and resources they need, and establishing sound governance around these initiatives.
Here in the Chicago region, there many initiatives to address the climate crisis. The past few months have yielded the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), a Climate Action Plan for the region, and about 10 communities passing resolutions to move forward. The City of Naperville Environment and Sustainability Task Force released the “Sustainable Naperville 2036” report (www.sustainnaperville.org/2036) detailing nearly 100 actions the city could take to reduce emissions; this report was shared within days of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issuing a “code red”. While I’m watching and waiting for the federal government to pass infrastructure legislation that addresses climate resilience, I’m thrilled that CEJA, a 900+ page document, commits Illinois to carbon-free power by 2045. Illinois is home to the 7th largest greenhouse gas emitter – Prairie State Energy Campus – which also provides electricity to communities both in Illinois and neighboring states by burning coal and natural gas. This plant will either be decommissioned or required to mitigate their emissions through carbon capture and sequestration. CEJA also provides for the equitable transition of the workforce, building out an electric vehicle charging network, and providing a statewide building energy stretch code – all high impact actions for reducing emissions. I am witnessing how policy can accelerate our emission reductions and at the same time, provide for a just transition.
In July, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus released a Climate Action Plan (https://mayorscaucus.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/RegionalCAP_primary_and_appendices_062321-02.pdf) for the region, providing a roadmap for municipal governments to reduce their emissions and address the impacts of climate change. The City of Chicago is updating their Climate Action Plan from 10 years ago for completion in early 2022. Only a handful of communities in the region have a dedicated staff position to coordinate these initiatives within their local government and none of them are CC-Ps, as far as I know.
Local governments often play the role of policymakers AND operations manager of critical services such as drinking water, emergency services, and building local roads. In the example of a local government’s responsibilities on transportation infrastructure, the local government has the ability to positively influence public and private sector development in the construction materials that are utilized by updating their construction specifications and adopting a green purchasing policy. For example, a city can specify a certain mix of concrete be used in road and sidewalk construction. Are they choosing a mix that has a lower greenhouse gas emissions footprint or even sequesters carbon? Are the project managers aware of the embodied carbon in construction materials? Are those individuals aware of urban heat island effect and the relationships of impervious surfaces with flood and extreme heat? And consequently, their impact on public health? Education of decision-makers on the environmental and economic benefits of a green purchasing program is key to achieving optimal results.
Just this morning I received an email from a global supplier of cement and concrete products and services, announcing their net zero targets for green concrete and green cement. These products are game-changers, as we reduce our operational emissions, the focus will become embodied and supply chain emissions. I immediately hit the forward button, sharing with my colleagues who would be excited as I was to see this news.
A municipality interacts with the private sector in multiple ways, purchasing supplies and materials, working with developers and contractors to build infrastructure, and with businesses that operate within their boundaries. Municipal staff have relationships with product vendors, from scoping materials for public works projects to vendors contacting staff to share new products or technologies. Municipalities can increase the market share for new products and technologies by specifying them in their projects. Government policy can influence private sector product development, because vendors will feel confident knowing there is a market for them. Many companies have pledged to become net zero, but how is the local government supporting those efforts? Reducing emissions is a win-win for everyone.
This is just one of so many examples that highlight the importance of having skilled and trained professionals leading and implementing the climate change and sustainability initiatives in local government. Is there a Certified Climate Change Professional (CC-P) or someone with a comparable other credential leading the climate change initiatives in your local government? If not, why? Were you aware of this crucial certification, and do your Human Resources and executive leadership have an awareness of this certification?
Across the country, state and local government agencies are adopting a preference for individuals with the CC-P credential to lead and support their climate change initiatives. Like other professional certifications, earning the CC-P credential reflects that a person has the demonstrated the key competencies critical to successful climate planning and implementation. Why wouldn’t you want to have the people working on this most critical challenge be those who have these skills … and have shown they are invested in continuing their education in the fast-paced, evolving world of climate change adaptation and mitigation?
In December, I will be joining hundreds of my peer CC-Ps for the inaugural CC-P Summit. I always learn from my fellow CC-P colleagues, whether public or private sector, and I love hearing about their recent accomplishments and sharing mine. But this Summit is different – it’s the first time a community of formally trained and qualified climate change professionals are gathering to work together on developing advocacy platforms, issuing calls to action, addressing the role of our field in tackling equity and inclusion, and shaping the marketplace that is (and very well should be) demanding our skills. CC-Ps are on the leading front of new technologies and legislation, with knowledge of innovative products and new requirements.
I hope to see you at the Summit – and if you’re not already on a pathway to becoming a CC-P, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to learn more about it.
For information on the CC-P Summit: https://climateofficers.org/ccp-summit
For information on ACCO and the CC-P credential: https://climateofficers.org
#ccpstrong #climatesmart #ccpsummit