Just like climate change knows no borders, neither do effective models to help communities take steps to address it.
This summer, Cincinnati-based Green Umbrella launched a pilot program to support the climate action planning efforts of three local governments in the region, which includes parts of Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.
Inspired by the IU Environmental Resilience Institute’s (ERI’s) McKinney Midwest Climate Project (MMCP), Green Umbrella’s Climate Action Fellowship connects local governments with students and young professionals to advance their community’s climate journey.
Over the course of 10 weeks, local governments and fellows work together to make progress in six areas related to climate action and resilience planning. The program includes a three-day training and regular support from Green Umbrella staff, culminating with a community showcase where participants present on the progress they made.
The inaugural cohort, funded by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, pairs the cities of Oxford, Ohio, Milford, Ohio, and Covington, Kentucky with local students and young professionals interested in public sector climate careers.
“I see this program as such a boon for getting folks excited about climate work who are both currently and not currently in the public sector space,” said Savannah Sullivan, Green Umbrella’s senior director of programs and climate strategy. “It's also very encouraging to community members who want to see this action from their governments.”
Sullivan, who worked at ERI during her time as a graduate student at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, is no stranger to developing climate programs and resources for local governments. While at IU, she supported the ERI Toolkit, a guide to help Midwest communities prepare for and address climate change impacts. Sullivan also contributed to some of ERI’s early programs for local governments focused on climate risk and vulnerability. Those experiences helped inform her approach to engaging communities at Green Umbrella, whose members include governments, businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions invested in local climate action.
When brainstorming program models to support smaller local governments with limited resources and varying levels of sustainability experience, Sullivan knew exactly where to turn. Since 2019, ERI has engaged nearly 50 local governments in Indiana on climate and resilience planning. Through MMCP’s Resilience Cohort, Indiana cities, towns, and counties have tackled topics spanning greenhouse gas inventories, climate action planning, solar readiness, and tree canopy replenishment.
“Early on, ERI heard from many Hoosier communities that they wanted to make progress on climate but didn’t really know how to get started,” said Therese Dorau, ERI assistant director for policy and implementation. “Since then, tremendous progress has been made in Indiana with guidance from ERI and with the support of McKinney Climate Fellows, IU students striving to become the next climate leaders. This model of collective impact could work across the country wherever there are shared goals and an organization willing to facilitate it. It’s exciting to see Green Umbrella pilot it in neighboring states.”
After consulting ERI staff in 2023, Sullivan adapted the Resilience Cohort model to fit Green Umbrella’s members, confident the program would achieve its stated goals. Though the pilot program doesn’t wrap up until early August, other local governments have already expressed interest about joining the next iteration, Sullivan said.
“What works about it is that the local government space is very community oriented,” she said. “Local governments like to learn from each other. They also like to see what their neighbors are doing.
“This program really lays the ground for accessible examples and stories for other governments in the region to look to.”
About the Environmental Resilience Institute
Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute connects a broad coalition of government, business, nonprofit, and community leaders to help Indiana and the Midwest better prepare for the challenges of environmental change. Together, we integrate research, education, and community to create environmental resilience and climate solutions—building a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future. Learn more at eri.iu.edu.
About Green Umbrella
As Greater Cincinnati’s Regional Climate Collaborative, Green Umbrella leads a network committed to taking decisive action in the face of climate change. We help our communities become more climate resilient and equitable, and work collectively to decrease our region's emissions. Find out more at greenumbrella.org.
