Tag Archives: Strategic Plans

City of Northfield Greenstep Cities Program

Northfield is a member of Minnesota GreenStep Cities, “a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. The Northfield City Council voted to become part of the GreenSteps Cities Program in 2011 and has since been using pursuing the green “steps” matrix to develop more sustainable practices on the part of the City.This free continuous improvement program is sponsored by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and based upon 28 best practices. Each best practice can be implemented by completing one or more actions at a 1, 2 or 3-star level, from a list of four to eight actions. These actions are tailored to all Minnesota cities, focus on cost savings and energy use reduction, and encourage civic innovation.” (http://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/)

Carleton Climate Action Plan

In May 2011, Carleton college’s Board of Trustees adopted its first Climate Action Plan, a document that compiles both short and long-term strategies to become climate neutral (net zero carbon emissions) by the year 2050.  Carleton authored the document as part of its participation in the 670+ member President’s Climate Commitment which unites higher ed institutions under the conviction that “…colleges and universities must exercise leadership in their communities and throughout society by modeling ways to minimize global warming emissions, and by providing the knowledge and the educated graduates to achieve climate neutrality.”