Kane County Reporter

At its Nov. 1 meeting, the Batavia Committee of the Whole heard from Alderwoman Abby Beck, who gave a presentation on some steps the city can take to improve its environmental impact. 

The council reviewed some of the city’s accomplishments, which included adopting the Greenest Region Compact II and signing the climate action plan. Officials have been updating facilities and encouraging walking, biking, and public transit. They've also have started community conversations about a variety of green initiatives.

The council then discussed some strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There were five overarching strategies for the city to consider implementing. They included demonstrating sustainability in municipal operations and public events, electrifying the city, reducing waste management impacts, improving water conservation efforts, and sustaining more green space in the area.

There were also recommendations for adaption, which would help the city deal with the negative consequences of climate change. There were five strategies for adapting. They included engaging and educating the community, incorporating equity and inclusion for vulnerable communities who might be affected more, collaborating and building capacity for emergency events, updating city codes to better reflect measures, and adapting operations and investments. 

"It is absolutely critical that Batavia residents and businesses understand that climate change is starting to happen now and that it will be necessary for all of us to prepare for and manage the potential risks created by climate change," former Alderwoman Susan Stark said at the meeting. "And those risks include water shortages, drought, flooding, fires, excessive heat, extreme cold. We need everyone to buy in to these measures."