Environment and Sustainability

"I want Chicago to be the greenest city in the world, and I am committed to fostering opportunities for Chicagoans to make sustainability a part of their lives and their experience in the city." -- Mayor Emanuel

The City of Chicago is a leader of innovative environmental initiatives, and sustainability is a key focus of Chicago’s policies. From the Chicago Climate Action Plan's broad leadership to the City's targeted energy efficiency investments, Chicago is integrating sustainability in the places residents work, live, learn, and play while preparing for a resilient future.

Creating a green, sustainable city requires hard work, cooperation and a commitment from local government as well as every individual, business and institution in the city. Learn more about what the City is doing and what you can do by exploring the links below, by signing up for the monthly Chicago Sustainability E-News and by following us on Twitter.


Water	Air & Natural Resources	Energy


Retrofit Chicago	Waste & Recycling	Green Buildings


Transportation	Business & Permits	Climate Action

Want to help? Volunteer!

Help make a difference with the City of Chicago's environmental volunteers opportunities:

Chicago Conservation Corps (teachers, students and adult residents 18+) Participate in environmental leadership trainings, instruct afterschool clubs (teachers only), and organize environmental projects in your community.

Recycling Block Captains (adult residents 18+ with Blue Cart Recycling) Learn about recycling services in Chicago and share the information and news with your neighbors and broader community.

Chicago Center for Green Technology (adult residents 18+) Network with local green professionals, give guided tours of the LEED® Platinum building to students and professional groups, and assist visitors in researching local green issues and products.

Most Recent News (Environment and Sustainability)

Jul 29,2013	City of Chicago Announces Third Phase of Citywide Recycling Expansion
Jun 22,2013	Mayor Emanuel and Choose Chicago Announce Chicago is the First Top Tier City to Earn Certification as Sustainable Destination for Meetings and Events
Jun 21,2013	Mayor Emanuel Announces 4,000 Homes and Apartments Retrofitted Since Launch of Retrofit Chicago Residential Partnership
Jun 04,2013	City of Chicago Announces Second Phase of Citywide Recycling Expansion
May 25,2013	Mayor Emanuel Announces City of Chicago Wins Phoenix Award for Excellence in Public/Private Partnership Collaboration, Building a Sustainable Community Asset

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Environment and Sustainability

Most Recent News (Environment and Sustainability)

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