On Earth Day 2021, Lesley Showers (left), Chief Operating Officer of Chicago’s Institute of Cultural Affairs, hosted Angela Tovar and Mayor Lightfoot in a tour of the Institute’s building, which is undergoing a full retrofit to reflect its mission as the Chicago Carbon-Free Demonstration Building. Photo credit: Heidi Zeiger, City of Chicago.
By Susan Messer
As Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Chicago, Angela Tovar has a big job: steering Mayor Lightfoot’s policy on environmental protection and climate change in addition to being a liaison between City Hall and community organizations in Chicago’s most polluted areas.
Q: It seems as though the environmental crisis has really come into focus in the past weeks. Do you agree?
A: We are most definitely in a moment when every level of government is expressing concern for the future of the earth, acknowledging that we face a growing threat and have to act quickly.
Q: In light of that, what’s at the top of your environmental activism agenda these days?
A: That would be the items outlined in Mayor Lightfoot’s recent budget address. The plan is to center our climate and sustainability agenda around racial and environmental justice, ensuring that climate-vulnerable communities are our priorities. It’s a demonstration of the city’s commitment to mitigating the effects of climate change, showing up with dollars in hand. We’re saying that we’re ready. We are here to make this investment.
Q: What are some key points of that investment?
A: We’re focused on green infrastructure and flood-mitigation in vulnerable communities. And we will be planting 75,000 trees across the city over the next five years, for all the gifts trees provide, including heat mitigation. We’re supporting retrofitting for energy efficiency in low- to moderate-income housing and neighborhood-anchor institutions. And many other things—connecting residents with renewable-energy sources; finding better waste management solutions, including for organic waste; and exploring greener transportation options.
A Chicago neighborhood view from Brian/Unsplash.
Q: I’ve heard you speak about approaching environmental issues with a mix of adaptation strategies and mitigations strategies. Talk to me about that.
A: The reality is that the climate crisis is here. How can we adapt to that reality? Adaptation means thinking strategically to ensure that communities are resilient. Examples include doing shoreline restoration—an effort currently being led by the Department of Transportation and the Park District. Adaptation means implementing as many interventions as possible so communities can withstand the growing threats. This involves developing deep partnerships with community organizations so we can understand from their perspectives what they need.
Mitigation means stopping environmental threats from getting worse. This includes, for example, the drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the end of last year, we asked folks from many sectors to join together and think about how we can decarbonize our built environment. We’re looking at how we currently operate and construct buildings, what materials we use in them, and what changes we need to make to mitigate the climate crisis. And we’re looking at how we can make sure everyone has access to renewable energy and community solar solutions, with the goal of lowering carbon emissions overall. The working group will release a report at the end of year, with recommendations for moving this mitigation process forward.
Q: I’ve also heard you talk about nature-based solutions. Can you explain what you mean?
A: I already mentioned planting trees, which is such a great nature-based investment for cities. Chicago also has several departments that are investing in the green schoolyards project, called Space to Grow. This is a movement to transform Chicago schoolyards into outdoor classrooms, where students can both play and learn. Space to Grow schoolyards include pollinator gardens as well as design features for managing storm water and reducing neighborhood flooding.
Q: How do you stay focused with so many competing concerns?
A: My job is to work with the mayor to design a climate agenda for the city. This is largely based on conversations we have with partners around the city. I’m one of the front-facing folks; I represent the mayor’s climate agenda. What keeps me focused is the people I work with—the dedicated team in the mayor’s office, our partners in other departments, and our partnerships with the stewards and climate leaders in the neighborhoods.
Q: What would you most like to see people do in terms of environmental activism?
A: We are in this moment when we must ensure that every leader we elect is committed to addressing the climate crisis and is putting together a robust climate agenda. So I want people to vote for leaders who understand that we can’t wait to address this crisis, and who want to address it equitably. I’d also like to see people become advocates for whatever they’re passionate about. So I say, get involved in what moves you, stay engaged, and support the work of the frontline leaders.
Stay informed about the City of Chicago's Environment and Sustainability initiatives here.