Spotlight: Green Cincinnati Plan & Sustainability Tour
Q: Since its launch, how has the Green Cincinnati Plan shaped the City’s approach to climate action and sustainability?
Molly: The 2023 Green Cincinnati Plan, or “GCP” as we call it, is our city’s strategic plan for climate action and it’s absolutely a plan of action. Formed by residents for residents, it contains 30 goals, 40 strategies, and 130 priority actions all aiming toward a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient Cincinnati. The eight focus areas of the Plan - Buildings & Energy, City Operations, Community Activation, Food, Mobility, Natural Environment, Resilience & Climate Adaptation, and Zero Waste - are brought to life in large part by 125 partners across the City that we call GCP Partners. While the City Operations chapter explicitly demands leadership and cooperation across City departments to “walk the talk”, most aspects of the Plan are inspired by and led by others beyond the walls of City Hall. The Plan is our collective call to action, but accomplishing the ambitions of the plan is an all-hands-on-deck effort where all residents are invited to and do take part.
Q: What measurable progress has Cincinnati made toward its climate and energy goals since the most recent update to the Plan?
Molly: For as ambitious a plan as the GCP is, we are proud to share that nearly 85% of priority actions are completed or in progress as we reach the halfway mark of our five year planning cycle. Another far from small feat is that we remain on track to achieve 50% carbon emissions reductions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. This is not something most cities can claim and it’s a goal we are constantly pushing towards at every turn.
Some of our most notable accomplishments since passage of the 2023 GCP include bringing the largest municipal solar array online, growing to 40 city facilities with solar and over 200 city electric or hybrid fleet vehicles, passing the Connected Communities policy to increase housing density along transit corridors, expanding the Crown bike trail network, improving water quality and expanding brownfield remediation efforts along the Millcreek Watershed, and granting over $500,000 to residents to lead climate action efforts in their own neighborhoods.
Q: Tell us about the upcoming Cincinnati Sustainability Tour and how it connects to the goals of the Green Cincinnati Plan?
Molly: As OES, we couldn’t be more excited to co-host the Cincinnati Sustainability Tour alongside our colleagues at PCFO. With a plan as ambitious as ours and shifting federal priorities, we increasingly need local leadership and action to ensure continued progress. This opportunity to convene leaders from across the city, county, and other key institutions to learn together and witness both progress and possibilities first hand is a gift. We see this as a chance to catalyze new relationships and revitalize existing ones, raise consciousness around the importance of innovation and persistence, and build momentum and hope for the years ahead. These are challenging, but pivotal times in which to lead forward. This tour will give us several focal points in which to do so!
Q: Who will be participating in the tour, and what kinds of sustainability initiatives will attendees get to see firsthand?
Jamiya: The tour will bring together Cincinnati’s elected officials, department directors, county and regional leaders, funders, green bank representatives, and chamber leadership to see firsthand how the city is advancing its climate and sustainability goals. Participants will explore projects that turn local climate action into reality—from transforming a landfill into a solar “brightfield” and developing renewable natural gas facilities to expanding green infrastructure and redevelopment along the Millcreek. The tour will also highlight energy-efficiency upgrades in affordable housing, sustainable transportation like Wasson Way and Bus Rapid Transit, and community-driven efforts such as the Urban League’s Resilience Hub and the Cincinnati Zoo’s solar arrays—all demonstrating how collaboration across sectors is creating a more equitable and resilient Cincinnati.
Q: How will the tour help attendees better understand Cincinnati’s progress toward becoming a more sustainable and equitable city?
Jamiya: This tour will give participants a real look at how Cincinnati is turning its sustainability and equity goals into measurable progress. By visiting sites focused on clean energy, green infrastructure, housing, and community resilience, attendees will see how these projects are improving daily life while reducing the city’s environmental footprint. Experiencing these efforts firsthand helps connect policies to the people and places they impact, offering a clearer understanding of how collaboration across sectors is shaping a more sustainable and equitable future for Cincinnati.
Q: How does community input and collaboration factor into the success of the Green Cincinnati Plan and the projects highlighted on this tour?
Molly: The Green Cincinnati Plan would simply not happen without a high degree of input and collaboration. As I mentioned earlier, this is a plan made by the people and for the people of Cincinnati. At the start of the plan’s formation, 3,000 recommendations for action came from residents and 1,680 attended 42 public meetings held throughout 2022. So, the Plan itself is built upon input and collaboration. Then, 125 GCP Partners and growing are bringing the Plan’s priority actions to life. This tour will highlight some amazing partnerships in action between the City and the Port, Cincinnati Development Fund, Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, Urban League, TriState Trails, SORTA, and more. More and better is only possible through input and partnership, so we want to be sure that’s a key message of this tour!
Q: What outcomes or next steps do you hope will result from this tour?
Jamiya: We hope the tour will encourage cross-collaboration between city departments, regional leaders, funders, and community partners to ensure resources and partnerships continue supporting Cincinnati’s climate action goals. By seeing the many projects, participants can better understand how coordinated efforts are driving real progress toward a more sustainable and equitable city and how they might further engage to drive change.
Q: For residents who want to get involved, what opportunities exist to support or participate in sustainability efforts across Cincinnati?
Molly: There are so many ways for residents to engage in the Green Cincinnati Plan. We know it can be overwhelming. There are a few great starting points that we recommend, though. One is to visit Green Umbrella’s Green Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities board. Another option is to peruse OES’ GCP Partners list and reach out directly to the organizations that pique your interest to offer time, treasure, or talent. Yet another opportunity is to consider applying to the City’s Environmental Advisory Board. Applications for next year are due November 14, 2025. And if nothing else, sign up for OES’ Newsletter and continue to build your sustainable, equitable, and resilient life with your everyday choices.