Our 2023 Legislative Tour season has come to an end, which means it’s time to take a look back on all the amazing places we took legislators and other key decision-makers to over the past few months.
Out of Office: Looking Back on the 2023 Legislative Tour Season Read More »
Monarch Decals to Soon Be in the Hands of Interested Illinois Drivers CHICAGO – Today, the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, in a joint announcement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, rolled out the brand new specialty Monarch Butterfly license plate decal after legislative approval seven years ago. Having played a key role in
CHICAGO, IL – After over a decade without one, Chicago’s City Council today made the historic move to re-establish the city’s Department of Environment (DOE). With the passage of the 2024 Chicago Budget, the City Council voted to allocate $1.8 mil to re-establish the Department. The Illinois Environmental Council’s (IEC) City Programs Director Iyana Simba
The Natural Areas Stewardship Act allows IDNR to award grants to conservationists like land trusts. Now, over 5 years into the law, take a look back at the impacts of this bill with IEC’s Conservation Director Lindsay Keeney— the wins, progress made and the work that couldn’t have been done without it.
Trust the Land: Looking at the Impacts of the Natural Areas Stewardship Act Read More »
IEC’s City Programs Director, Iyana Simba, provides an in depth analysis of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed budget for 2024, including the re-establishment of Chicago’s Department of Environment.
A Closer Look: Mayor Johnson’s FY2024 Chicago City Budget Read More »
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2023 Sustainable Agriculture Town Hall Read More »
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2023 Zero Waste Town Hall Read More »
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2023 Clean Energy Town Hall Read More »
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2023 Transportation Town Hall Read More »
Illinois Environmental Council Releases Annual Scorecard (SPRINGFIELD, IL) – The Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) released its 2023 Legislative Environmental Scorecard today. The scorecard, which is released annually, assigns a percentage score to legislators based on how they voted on bills affecting the environment. This year, 17 state representatives and 10 state senators received 100% scores
State Legislators Earn Coveted Top Marks for Their Environmental Voting Record Read More »
IEC is proud to present our 2023 Environmental Scorecard for the Illinois General Assembly. Scores are based on the environmental impact of their voting record over the last legislative session. We hope this will be a useful resource and allow you to see whether your legislators have used their power in the General Assembly to
2023 Environmental Scorecard Read More »
Read the 2022 IEC and IECEF Annual Report to learn more about the state of our organizations and the progress we made in 2022.
2022 Annual Report Read More »
Illinois — Today, Governor JB Pritzker issued an amendatory veto on HB3445—legislation that would have given Ameren, the private utility company that serves much of Central and Southern Illinois, a “Right of First Refusal” to build regional transmission lines in Southern Illinois. Under this bill, Ameren would have been given first dibs on building new
Illinois — Today, Governor JB Pritzker vetoed SB76—a bill that would have lifted Illinois’ decades-old moratorium on new nuclear power plants. Responding to growing concerns about safety, waste and cost associated with nuclear power generation, the Illinois General Assembly passed a moratorium on developing new nuclear facilities within the state in 1987. Those concerns remain
IEC’s City Programs Director, Iyana Simba, provides an in depth analysis of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Transition Report, with attention to Environmental Justice goals for the city.
2023 Chicago Transition Report Analysis Read More »
IEC’s state policy team has published our 2023 Legislative Report detailing environmental wins and setbacks during this year’s legislative session.
2023 Legislative Report Read More »
As global plastic treaty negotiations conclude, stakeholders from the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Ocean Conservancy, and Illinois Environmental Council celebrate local action on plastic pollution in Illinois, look to continue momentum.
6 out of 10 of the Largest Industrial Methane Emitters in Illinois are Landfills CHICAGO (May 31, 2023)— Industrious Labs released a new analysis today that shows how Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills in all fifty states compare to other large industrial methane emitters. Illinois ranks ninth among states in harmful methane emissions from MSW
Illinois Landfill Methane Emissions are the Ninth Worst in the Country Read More »
Important deadlines this week and big updates on priority bills
2023 Environmental Legislative Update Read More »
SPRINGFIELD, IL — After missing multiple opportunities this Spring to protect environmental justice communities across Illinois, the Illinois General Assembly yesterday passed HB2878 and HJR23. These bills give broad permission for public-private partnership (P3) funding of large transportation projects like widening I-55. This legislation will bring new vehicle traffic and even more diesel emissions into
