Chicago City Council

Chicago City Council Takes Historic Vote to Re-establish the City’s Department of Environment After its Dissolution Over a Decade Ago

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 […]

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2023 Chicago City Council Scorecard

Below you will find IEC’s 2023 Environmental Scorecard for the Chicago City Council, calculating each City Council alderperson’s average environmental score. Scores are based on the environmental impact of their voting record over the last two years.  That means you can see whether your alderperson has used their power in the City Council to protect

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Ahead of 2023 municipal election, the Illinois Environmental Council Releases Alderpersons’ Environmental Voting Records, Recommendations for Chicago’s Next Mayoral Term

(CHICAGO) – Today, the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) released its 2023 Mayoral Report and 2023 Chicago City Council Environmental Scorecard. With a range of environmental issues arising throughout a Chicago mayoral term, IEC’s 2023 Mayoral Report lays out key recommendations across a wide range of environmental issues for the city’s leader during the next Mayoral

Ahead of 2023 municipal election, the Illinois Environmental Council Releases Alderpersons’ Environmental Voting Records, Recommendations for Chicago’s Next Mayoral Term Read More »

Bill Defending CEJA and Protecting Local Clean Energy Projects Passes During Lame Duck Session

SPRINGFIELD, IL – A bill protecting Illinois-based clean energy projects from a growing number of local bans passed today during the Illinois General Assembly’s lame duck legislative session. HB4412 was drafted to prevent counties from enacting preemptive local ordinances that outright ban local wind and solar projects, hindering the state’s new climate goals set forth

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STATEMENT: IEC Voices Support for Chicago’s Proposed FY2023 Budget

CHICAGO – Illinois Environmental Council Executive Director Jen Walling released the following statement in anticipation of today’s City Council budget consideration: “The City of Chicago’s proposed FY2023 budget includes significant steps forward in staffing, resources, power and responsibility for the environment, environmental justice and climate projects at the City of Chicago. We urge alderpersons to

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Environmental Organizations Call on the City of Chicago to do Right by Southeast Siders

As disrespectful text messages surface, environmental groups back Southeast Side residents CHICAGO – Yesterday, reporting by the Chicago Tribune uncovered an alarming series of text messages between Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Alderperson Sue Garza regarding the ongoing fight for clean air on Chicago’s Southeast Side. In response, the Illinois Environmental Council and the Sierra Club

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Statement: Illinois Environmental Council Applauds Chicago’s Approved FY2022 Budget

CHICAGO — The Illinois Environmental Council issued the following statement of support following Chicago’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget vote: “The Illinois Environmental Council applauds Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago City Council Alderpersons who voted in support of the FY2022 budget for passing the single largest environmental investment in Chicago’s history. This historic investment in

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Illinois Environmental Council Celebrates the Passage of the Native Plants Gardens Registry Ordinance

CHICAGO (Sept. 14, 2021) — Today, the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) issued the following statement on the unanimous passage of the Native Plants Gardens Registry Ordinance (O2021-362) during today’s Chicago City Council meeting: “While Chicago has long emphasized the importance of native plants within their own messaging and institutions, policies in the city have not

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Statement Celebrating the Committee Passage of the Native Gardens Registry Ordinance

CHICAGO (Sept. 13, 2021) — Today, the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) issued the following statement on the passage of the Native Plants Gardens Registry Ordinance (O2021-362) during today’s Chicago City Council Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy meeting: “Today, the City moved an important step closer to cultivating native plants and sustainable landscapes for Chicagoans

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Chicago Alderpersons Earning Top Marks on Inaugural Environmental Scorecard Announced

The Illinois Environmental Council Releases First Chicago City Council Scorecard, Recognizes Green Champions at Mid-term (CHICAGO) – Today, the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) released its inaugural Chicago City Council Environmental Scorecard, which scores each sitting Chicago City Council alderperson based on the environmental impact of their voting record over the last two years. For over

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2021 Chicago City Council Scorecard

For the first time, IEC has released an Environmental Scorecard for the Chicago City Council, debuting each sitting City Council alderperson’s average environmental score. Scores are based on the environmental impact of their voting record over the last two years.  That means, for the first time, you can see whether your alderperson has used their power

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Chicago City Council to Take Up Native Gardens Protections

New Native Garden Registry to Curb Discriminatory Crackdown, Protect the Environment CHICAGO —  Today, advocates joined Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward-Chicago) and a dozen other aldermen to introduce the Native Plants Gardens Registry Ordinance (O2021-362) for consideration by the Chicago City Council. The proposal would create a new Managed Native Garden Registry, protecting citizens who

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