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South Bend Creates Plan To Fight Climate Change On Local Level

Annacaroline Caruso/WVPE News

The City of South Bend created a plan to be carbon neutral by 2050. Some local activists say the plan isn’t urgent enough.

The plan will target transportation and energy use, which city officials say are the biggest culprits of greenhouse gasses in South Bend.

By following this strategy, the City expects to reduce 26 percent of carbon emissions by 2025.
 
Garrett Blad is a local climate change activist and says while he’s glad South Bend created a plan, it’s not enough.

“From what I see from this document, it doesn’t take that urgency into account. We want to see the best climate plan right now while the eyes of the nation are on South Bend.”

Blad and other activists called on city officials to change the carbon neutral goal from 2050 to 2030, shortening the plan by 20 years.

Therese Dorau is the director of sustainability for the city. She says she understands why some people want to move as fast as possible.

“The most important thing is to just get started, get that momentum building and then reevaluate frequently so this plan is not meant to just sit on the shelf and stagnate but to be reevaluated.”

The South Bend Common Council is expected to vote on adopting the plan on Monday, Nov. 25th.

Contact Annacaroline at acaruso@wvpe.org or follow her on Twitter at @AnnacarolineC16
 
 
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