Climate Change, Health, & Equity Initiative

Background

Since its launch in 2019, the Live Well Springfield (LWS) Climate Change, Health, and Equity Coalition has been working to address the interconnected issues of greenhouse gas emissions, health, equity, and racism in Springfield through a policy, systems, and environmental change lens. Funding from the Kresge Foundation's initial launch of the Climate Change Health and Equity Initiative (CCHE 1.0) supported the coalition’s advocacy to successfully advocate for Community Choice Energy for the city and explore the development of a Race and Health Equity Impact Assessment tool. Learn about the 2019 prioritization process.

Goals

Now, with CCHE 2.0 funding, we’re expanding our work to build a stronger and healthier community. Our plans include:

• Supporting the full adoption of Community Choice Energy and educating the community about how it works.
• Updating the Springfield Climate Action & Resilience Plan, which will serve as a guide for building long-term community resilience.
• Working with the City of Springfield to prepare for extreme heat and making sure community groups are part of the planning and response.
• Hosting community resilience workshops on clean energy, extreme heat, and other climate-related impacts.

Initiatives