The Chicago chapter’s primary campaign is focused on getting the city of Chicago to divest the operational budget and all pension funds away from fossil fuel holdings. They also host educational and social events throughout the city for people who are interested in taking action on climate. 

Blacks in Green’s signature Sustainable Square Mile is the gold standard for Black community development. Their unique whole-system approach for whole-system problems is designed to increase our communities’ wealth and wellbeing in the context of a changing climate. The Sustainable Square Mile concept embodies BIG’s 8 Principles of Green Village Building, from neighbor-owned green enterprises to locally produced clean energy. BIG is also planning community-based economies centered on housing and waste management, and is already offering training for jobs in clean energy and agriculture.

The Center for Neighborhood Technology delivers innovative analysis and solutions that support community-based organizations and local governments to create neighborhoods that are equitable, sustainable, and resilient. Their goal is to advance urban sustainability and shared prosperity through initiatives in transportation, water, climate, and public policy. 

The mission of the Climate Action Museum is to activate a tipping point on climate mitigation in the Chicago region through education, stimulating critical thought, and to inspire and facilitate direct action. 

Chicago Climate Connect is a recurring, monthly event open to climate-minded folks who want to connect with others in the local Chicagoland community.

The Chicago Community Climate Action Toolkit was created by The Field Museum in collaboration with partner organizations in four Chicago neighborhoods—Pilsen, Forest Glen, South Chicago, and Bronzeville—to develop and carry out local climate action projects.  The toolkit now functions to aid Chicago community members learn about how climate change is impacting the Chicago region and what can be done to help, design and carry out community-led climate action projects that improve local quality of life at the same time, and explore a place-based approach to climate change and models for community-led climate action.

The Chicago Environmental Justice Network (CEJN) works to promote environmental justice and equity in the Chicagoland area by bringing together neighborhood-based grassroots environmental organizations. EJN) is led by frontline, community-based organizations located on the south and west sides of Chicago. Led mostly by women of color, these organizations serve communities that face severe environmental and health disparities due to the close proximity of residential areas near sources of pollution.

The Chicagoland Environmental Network (CEN), a group of more than 240 environmental and natural resource organizations, can get you connected. CEN is a resource for anyone interested in nature or conservation-related activities in northeastern Illinois and surrounding areas. CEN organizations are involved in important work, including habitat restoration; wetland, prairie, and watershed projects; urban gardening; energy conservation; composting, wildlife conservation; and recycling.

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the metropolitan planning organization for northeastern Illinois, named climate mitigation and adaptation as two goals in its ON TO 2050 comprehensive regional plan. CMAP is currently identifying climate priorities for the next 5 years, including addressing mitigation in the transportation sector, updating the regional greenhouse gas inventory, increasing resilience in the region’s communities, and assessing the vulnerability of the regional transportation system.

The City of Chicago Climate Infrastructure Fund is accepting grant applications to support neighborhood projects that mitigate the effects of climate change and accelerate the city’s equitable transition to the green economy. Individual grants from approximately $50,000 to $250,000 are available through the fund to support capital investments in energy efficiency projects, electric vehicles, and green infrastructure. Grants will be allocated to help achieve the City’s Climate Action Plan goal of reducing greenhouse emissions by 62% by 2040, with priority given to proposals located in environmental justice communities.  

Applications due: August 18, 2023