The Ann Arbor Climate Partnership

About 

The Ann Arbor Climate Partnership (A2CP) is a coalition of organizations and people working to solve the climate crisis in our community and throughout the world.  We believe that every community must take immediate actions to rapidly phase out fossil fuels, and to protect their most vulnerable people from the ravages of climate change.

We were founded in 2014 after the City of Ann Arbor adopted one of the country’s first municipal climate action plans, a bold framework to reduce the community’s climate emissions 90% by 2050.  Since then, the City has expanded its transit service by 43%; committed itself to operating all of its facilities on 100% renewable energy by 2030; and created an 8-year $880,000/year fund to begin implementing the climate plan.

 

Our Mission

The mission of the Ann Arbor Climate Partnership is to engage and guide the larger Ann Arbor community (residents, neighborhoods, businesses, nonprofits, local governments, educational institutions, etc.) to achieve the goals of the Ann Arbor Climate Action Plan (CAP)  and to strengthen partnerships with the University of Michigan and regional stakeholders so that together we mitigate climate change, adapt to its impacts and ensure both economic vitality and social justice.

We carry out this work through advocacy, communication, education, advice and technical support.  We also provide a platform for collaboration and a community of practice that creates a network of advocates, technical experts, program staff, and others to share information, best practices, inspiration, and creativity.

 

Leadership

The Climate Partnership is guided by a Working Group of non-governmental organizations and municipal and institutional participants.  The government, university, and institutional participants in the Working Group provide information to the coalition, but have no role in its decisions. The Ecology Center serves as the convenor and host organization for the coalition. Any individual, business, or organization can sign up as a member or “partner” to support the A2CP mission.  These are the participants in the Working Group as of September 2019:

NGO Partners

A2 Climate Mobilization

Ann Arbor Area Elders Climate Action

Ann Arbor 2030 District

Citizens Climate Lobby, Washtenaw Chapter

Climate Reality Project, Washtenaw Chapter 

Ecology Center

First Unitarian Universalist Climate Action

Huron River Watershed Council 

Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, Climate Task Force 

Michigan Interfaith Power & Light 

National Wildlife Federation, Great Lakes Office 

Sierra Club, Huron Valley Group

Solar Faithful

Sunrise Movement Ann Arbor

Voices for Carbon Neutrality

Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition

 

Government, University, and Institutional Participants (ex-officio)

Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority

City of Ann Arbor Office of Innovation and Sustainability

City of Ann Arbor Environmental Commission

City of Ann Arbor Energy Commission

UM Energy Institute

UM Office of Sustainability

Rooftop Solar Panels

Energy & Buildings

Higher performance buildings: increase energy efficiency in new and existing buildings within our community. Eighty percent of Ann Arbor’s buildings were built before 1976, so driving retrofits and improvements is critical.

Energy Source: facilitate the transition from centralized, high-carbon energy sources to low- or no-carbon energy, such as wind, solar, and geothermal.

Bike Racks on A2 Buses

Land Use & Access

Integrated land use: encourage a pattern of compact diverse development that maintains a unique sense of place, preserves natural systems and strengthens neighborhoods, corridors, and downtown.

Transportation options: establish a physical and cultural environment that supports and encourages safe, comfortable, and efficient ways for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users to travel throughout the city and region.

Sustainable systems: plan for and manage constructed and natural infrastructure systems to meet the current and future needs of the community.

Farmers' Markets

Resource Management

Responsible resource use: effectively manage water resources, minimize water and wastewater treatment, curb consumption, and decrease landfill material by increasing reuse, recycling, and composting.

Local food: protect and enhance our local agriculture and aquaculture resources.

Community Events

Community Engagement

Engaged community: create an educated, aware, and active community to support Ann Arbor’s climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Green Roofs

Adaptation

Healthy ecosystems: preserve, protect, enhance, and restore our aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Adaptation: Adapt or cope with the inevitable impacts of climate change regardless of future emissions reductions.

Ann Arbor Climate Partnership Video