Building Power in the Prairie State
June 7, 2024
IEC’s social media manager spent his first week with IEC discovering what it means to build power for people and the environment.
IEC Blog
Plastic Pollution in Chicago
May 14, 2024
Over the past few years, Illinois has seen plastic waste reduction legislative victories in Springfield. Advocates in its largest city, Chicago, seek to implement similar legislation to protect Lake Michigan and other water resources from dangerous microplastic pollution.
Protecting Chicago’s Wetlands
May 14, 2024
Wetlands–home to a dazzling array of plants and animals–stand between us and some of the worst effects of climate change. Advocates in Chicago urge decision-makers to implement policy solutions to protect these incredible ecosystems.
Lead Service Line Replacement in Chicago
May 14, 2024
For many Chicagoans, especially folks living on the City’s south and west sides, lead service line pollution is a daily reality. For households served by some of the city’s almost 400,000 lead service lines, this lack of access to clean water continues to be an environmental injustice.
How Local Food Systems Can Transform School Lunchrooms and Brighten Futures
January 29, 2024
With locally-grown food in their diets, students have stopped getting fast food and vending machine snacks for lunch, feel sustained until dinner time, and are more alert in class. The students have also grown closer to the cafeteria staff and gained a greater appreciation for food and where it comes from. IEC pays a visit to Pawnee Schools to see their farm-to-table school lunch program!
Space to Grow: Greening Chicago One Playground At A Time
November 29, 2023
As the climate crisis looms and the unending pace of development threatens natural spaces across the country, it is imperative that green initiatives are advanced and that the benefits of those initiatives are shared among those who are already experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis.
Taking Flight: The Story Behind Illinois’ Long Awaited Monarch License Plates
November 21, 2023
Here’s some conservation news years in the making: in 2016, Illinois passed a law greenlighting a monarch license plate decal which would generate funding for pollinator habitat in IL. A few years, and 2,000 pledges from enviros later and the Decal is finally here!
Out of Office: Looking Back on the 2023 Legislative Tour Season
November 16, 2023
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.
Trust the Land: Looking at the Impacts of the Natural Areas Stewardship Act
November 3, 2023
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.
Congratulations, Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson
April 17, 2023
By: Iyana Simba, City Programs Director The Illinois Environmental Council congratulates incoming Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson on their recent election victory. We are excited to
Breaking Free from Foam: How Illinois and Chicago Can Reduce Plastic Waste
March 29, 2023
Illinois needs to break up with plastic. For decades, we’ve known that single-use plastic items, including polystyrene foam cups, plates, and containers are among the most common and harmful forms of pollution found in the environment. So, what are Illinois’ plans to eliminate outdated foam foodware?
The Decisive Decade
February 7, 2023
IEC hosted President Biden’s National Climate Advisor, Ali Zaidi, at a breakfast with leaders from Illinois’ environmental community.
A Southeast Side Story: A Closer look at Environmental Justice, Resistance and Sustainability on the East Side
December 2, 2022
Illinois is home to a diverse range of natural landscapes: from native prairie lands to forest preserves and state parks to marshes, rivers, and other iconic waterways. A large part of IEC’s mission is preserving these natural spaces and building healthy environments for the communities who call them home; however, this mission cannot be approached in the same exact way for each and every community across the state.
2022 Legislative Tours: Legislators in the Wild
December 1, 2022
In June 2019, I wrote a blog post introducing readers to one of the Illinois Environmental Council’s most successful programs, legislative tours. Since then, we’ve conducted dozens of informative “tours” with legislators and local officials, taking them out of their office buildings and into the natural areas we need their help to protect.
Leaving a Sustainable Legacy for Generations to Come When We Die
October 28, 2022
End of life planning is not the most exciting subject for many people. Folks tend to avoid it whenever they can! But not having the conversation means people are unaware of their potential opportunities.
The Illinois is Beautiful Initiative
August 17, 2022
From our conversations in Illinois communities and the surveys we collected, it is clear there is overwhelming support for an increase and acceleration of conservation in Illinois. Over 85% of respondents believe that 4% of Illinois land in protection is not enough.
Global Crises and Pain at the Pump: A Clean Solution to Rising Energy Prices
May 4, 2022
With gas prices skyrocketing, the need for increased investment in clean energy has never been greater. To understand the current situation and what needs to happen next, let us take a look at history and how we got here.
Why Chicago Needs A Department of Environment
May 4, 2022
A decade ago, the Emanuel administration dissolved Chicago’s Department of Environment. It’s time to bring it back.
Agriculture Lease Agreements with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
March 9, 2022
Lindsay Keeney and Eliot Clay sit down with Mike Chandler and Bob Caveny of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to discuss the department’s agriculture lease program.
A Look at Chicago’s Environmental Justice Battles, Impacts and Solutions
January 5, 2022
Though Chicago has recently made historic climate and environmental justice budget investments, the city still has much to do in the way of ensuring equitable public health and environmental protections in our EJ communities.