Leaders from more than a dozen west suburban Cook County communities gathered last week to discuss how they can collaborate to advance climate policy across the region.
Founded in 2022 by Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman, Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson, River Forest Village President Cathy Adduci and sustainability policy consultants Darnell Johnson and Gary Cuneen, The Cross Community Climate Collaborative now includes 14 local municipalities. Participants are committed to sharing resources and pursuing funding opportunities to help the region reduce carbon emissions, increase access to green technology for communities of different income levels and reach other sustainability benchmarks.
“As C4 looks ahead, our mission remains clear: to expand our network, develop shared data systems to track greenhouse gas reductions, strengthen workforce pathways for young people and adults in the green economy, deepen commitments to equity and sustainability and continue building a road map for thriving, climate-ready communities,” the group said of its work in materials supporting the event.
The group also touted a goal of cutting regional carbon emissions by 45% by 2030.
The group, referred to by its members as C4, held a forum at Triton College on Friday, Sept. 26 where the group’s founders discussed the collaboration’s accomplishments and goals. In addition to Thompson, Scaman and Adduci who spoke on a panel at the event, leaders from Forest Park, Berwyn, River Grove, Westchester, Riverside, North Riverside, Brookfield, Bellwood, Maywood, La Grange Park, Hillsdale and Gary, IN were in attendance.
Thompson said that the collaboration has brought a new level of unity and teamwork to the region as communities work together towards common climate goals.
“We’ve worked in so many silos,” Thompson said. “Climate change does not stop at city borders or ask about political affiliation.”
Participants said that collaborations like these are even more important amid federal cuts to funding for climate sustainability efforts that Johnson said amounted to “an attack on environment and sustainability work overall.” Cuneen told attendees that the group had seen $2.3 million in federal grants for solar energy rescinded since President Donald Trump took office this year.
A $20 million proposal sent to the EPA earlier this year also received no response, Cuneen said.
Cutbacks on the state government’s financial support for climate efforts are also expected.
Scaman said that Oak Park’s status as a home rule community has been a major help to its climate efforts. A home rule community is a municipality with over 25,000 people that has the freedom to enact any taxes, take on debt and pass any regulations it wishes so long as they don’t conflict with state law.
Scaman suggested that the state legislature look at lowering the population requirements for home rule status so that communities can have more freedom over their financial strategy, in the light of lost state and federal funds.
“Oak Park has a real advantage being a home rule community that not all of our members have,” Scaman said. “You have limitations as a non-home rule community on what you can do with your budget.”
Illinois State Sen. Kimberly Lightford was also in attendance at the meeting, and said that she will take that feedback back to the legislature.
