By Jesse Dolojan, Education and Enrichment Coordinator

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval announced that Cincinnati was selected to participate in the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities initiative, a program designed to combat the effects of climate change throughout major urban areas in the country.

The designation, which was announced on March 12, means that Cincinnati will join 24 American cities participating in the program, including other Ohio cities, such as Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Akron.

This three-year program, backed by a $200 million Bloomberg Philanthropies investment, seeks to enhance cities’ efforts to “proactively build low-carbon, resilient and economically thriving communities,” according to the organization. Cities were selected based on the number of disadvantaged communities historically overburdened by pollution and other negative effects of environmental degradation. 

With the investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Cincinnati city government will work with three new staff members from an “innovation team” created by the organization, which seeks to address sustainability initiatives in the city.

According to director of Cincinnati’s Office of Environment and Sustainability Ollie Kroner, these staff members will prioritize efforts such as reviewing green workforce development, supporting minority-owned businesses, addressing energy poverty and focusing on creating climate adaptation strategies. 

Kroner believes that receiving the grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies will allow Cincinnati to combat climate change. 

Xavier history professor and on-campus Climate Change Action Workshop facilitator Dr. Kathleen Smythe  noted that the grant exemplifies how Cincinnati has set itself apart from other cities in the U.S. in terms of being a leader in sustainability. 

“It’s a sign that they think Cincinnati has enough momentum and infrastructure that this sort of addition of targeted, pretty significant amounts of funds can be leveraged in a pretty powerful way to make even greater change,” Smythe said. 

Ella O’Maley, a third-year economic, sustainability and society major and co-president of Xavier Student Sustainability, also believes that Cincinnati receiving the grant exemplifies the efforts the city has taken to be as sustainable as possible.

“It makes sense that Cincinnati gets it or got this funding because the Green Cincinnati Plan, the newer one, is extensive. And there has been a lot of progress within the city in terms of sustainability and emissions and things like that,” O’Maley stated. 

Smythe believes that Cincinnati’s efforts in its Office of Sustainability can be attributed to the goals it aims to achieve with its sustainability efforts. 

“We do have a very robust Office of Sustainability that’s integrated into city government. For a long time, we have thought of ourselves as a region rather than just a city. And while that is hard and cumbersome, I think there are tremendous benefits from that,” Smythe said.

Smythe thinks that the program’s expansive goals allow for residents in surrounding areas to benefit from the Office of Sustainability’s efforts. 

“You’re benefiting suburban residents. You’re benefiting hopefully even some outlying more rural areas. And I think those that’s incredibly important,” she said. 

Smythe also expressed relief that Cincinnati is pouring a considerable amount of time and resources into combating climate change. 

“It’s really just gratifying to live in a city where it feels like we are paying attention to possibly the most important problem that we’re facing. This city and its recent leadership around this issue, and Bloomberg noticing it just gives me a tremendous feeling of gratitude,” Smythe said.

O’Maley thinks that Cincinnati’s Office of Sustainability can act as a guide for Xavier and that maintaining a connection between both groups will only help both parties. 

“I think that the progress that the city of Cincinnati is making can be a guide for Xavier,” O’Maley said.

“I think that maintaining a connection between Xavier University and the Office of Environmental Sustainability in the city of Cincinnati is critical for enhancing knowledge and pursuing the initiatives that both entities are developing,” O’Maley said.