Naperville prides itself on being sustainable and one of the best places to live. Yet, the city still receives 80% of its energy from carbon-emitting sources.
A city with Naperville’s resources and reputation should be leading the way to achieving carbon neutrality. Yet, they have failed to do so. I find this to be extremely disappointing, and I am not alone.
Why a climate action plan?
In late Jan., Naperville’s Environment and Sustainability Task Force (NEST) organized the Say No to Coal consortium. This resulted from community frustrations over a potential contract extension with Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA), the city’s energy provider since 2011. Approving this extension would prolong the city’s dependence on an outdated carbon source until 2050.
Without a climate action plan, Naperville struggles to meet the community’s desire to shift away from carbon sources. Climate action plans are comprehensive and detailed documents that serve as a roadmap to achieving carbon neutrality. Their success depends on stakeholder involvement through a community engagement plan.
The role of stakeholders in climate action planning
Naperville not having a climate action plan is ridiculous. With a population of 150,000 residents, motivating the city’s various stakeholders to work cooperatively with the community shouldn’t be a challenge. Stakeholders are limited in their roles but also bring unique perspectives and opportunities that help make Naperville’s first climate action plan a reality.
Take, for instance, the role of the city’s first-ever and current Sustainability Manager, Ben Mjolsness, who came into the position in 2021. In a phone interview with Mjolsness, he made it clear that he can only move forward with policies approved by the city council. He and his team are ready to move forward if a climate action plan is approved. Currently, the city is updating its greenhouse gas emissions inventory to establish a baseline for climate action policies.
NEST plays a strictly advisory role for the city since it began collaborating in 2019. As the City’s official task force, NEST created a community sustainability plan. This plan, known as Sustainable Naperville 2036, is a 15-year vision designed as a foundation for a climate action plan. Since the release of this report in 2021, the city has adopted a sustainability work plan. However, this is still not a climate action plan. NEST continues to voice the community’s need and desire for a climate action plan. Unfortunately, they lack the authority to make this a reality.
Both roles depend on policy decisions approved by the City Council. These decisions play a huge part in the progress towards a climate action plan. Simply put, we need a structured and ongoing way to bring stakeholders together to create a shared vision for achieving carbon neutrality.
Yonkers, New York: Real community engagement
Luckily, there are plenty of examples for the city to look at. One that really stood out to me was Yonkers, New York.
Naperville and Yonkers are both suburban municipalities, have a similar population size, age, and have a comparable sustainability timeline. The difference between the two is that Yonkers has a climate action plan.
In March 2022, the City of Yonkers began developing its climate action plan. This comprehensive plan was officially announced in 2023. It was a result of the continuous engagement and collaboration of community stakeholders, including Groundwork Hudson Valley’s Climate Safe Yonkers Task Force, the general public, and city staff.
For the City of Yonkers, it was prioritized for all stakeholders to be engaged in the planning process. Yonkers community engagement plan consisted of several meetings and public sessions including climate priorities workshops, climate strategies workshops, and a climate equity roundtable. This form of engagement created the space for ongoing involvement that gave people a real voice in shaping the future of their city. In the end over 38 community recommendations made it into the final version of the plan.
Moving forward: A plan for Naperville
Naperville must use Yonkers as a guide in developing a comprehensive community engagement plan. This community has shown repeatedly that they want a sustainable future that doesn’t include carbon-emitting technologies. We have a committed Sustainability Manager, an active and informed task force in NEST, and a community that has shown it wants to engage.
We’re not missing interest or expertise, we’re missing coordination. A structured engagement plan would create that missing link. To be clear, engagement isn’t just about asking people what they think. It’s about empowering them to be part of the decision-making process. When people feel heard, they show up. When they feel included, they stay involved.
Naperville shouldn’t treat its first climate action plan as just a government document. Instead, it should serve as a true community effort that reflects the values, priorities, and hopes of the people who live here.