Chicago’s environmental landscape has long been shaped by systemic injustices, but the city is making monumental strides toward a more equitable and sustainable future. Drawing on an insightful conversation from Lindy Wordlaw, Director of Climate and Environmental Justice Initiatives for the City of Chicago’s Department of Environment, I will highlight how these efforts are creating real benefits for residents and ways you can get involved.
Historic Inequities in Chicago’s Environment
Chicago’s environmental history is deeply marked by injustice. Unsustainable industrial practices and urban planning policies disproportionately harmed low-income and systemically marginalized communities, particularly on the city’s South and West Sides.
Examples include:
- Toxic pollution from coal-fired power plants like Fisk and Crawford, which left legacies of respiratory illnesses and higher asthma rates.
- Lead-contaminated drinking water pipes, which still threaten thousands of households today (Check to see if your water service line has lead here).
- Federal investigations in 2022 confirming civil rights violations, documenting higher pollution exposure in Black and Brown neighborhoods, and exposing life expectancy gaps of up to 30 years.
These systemic issues emphasize the urgent need for equity-centered approaches to sustainability in the City of Chicago.
Ongoing Challenges in Advancing Equitable Sustainability
While progress is underway, significant barriers remain. As Lindy Wordlaw, Director of Climate and Environmental Justice Initiatives for the City of Chicago’s Department of Environment, notes, “we’re well aware of the many challenges the city of Chicago faces.”
Some of the key obstacles Wordlaw identified include:
- Legacy policies: Historic redlining policies concentrated heavy polluting industries primarily in Black and Brown communities, exacerbating health disparities such as elevated rates of asthma and respiratory disease.
- Funding shortages: Though new federal resources became available during and immediately post-pandemic, more recent federal actions, such as terminating climate grants, have increased the difficulty of scaling citywide climate solutions.
- Older buildings: Chicago is home to many older buildings that were built when there were few, if any energy codes. Those buildings’ inefficient energy usage leads to higher energy bills and increased discomfort during both the coldest and warmest times of year.
These negative outcomes are exacerbated in households with less disposable income, which are often concentrated on the city’s South and West Sides. In practical terms, this means families that are already burdened by race-based, economic, and housing inequity often pay more for energy while facing greater exposure to pollution and climate impacts.
Wordlaw emphasizes the human side of these challenges: “Climate planning isn’t abstract; it’s about connecting the dots between environmental health and vibrant, livable neighborhoods.”
The City of Chicago’s Recent Climate Wins
Despite the challenges, the City of Chicago has made significant progress on its climate goals, especially through equitable initiatives, including:
Win 1: 100% Renewable Energy for Municipal Buildings
As of January 1, 2025, every municipal building, including O’Hare and Midway airports, is sourced by 100% renewable energy. This was made possible through a landmark solar farm project, the largest east of the Mississippi. As part of the transition, the City worked with the retail electricity supplier and the solar developer on a community benefits agreement to ensure that the initiative would prioritize equitable benefits, including local hiring from Black and Brown communities. Fleet electrification by 2035 is the next key milestone.
Win 2: The Library Solar Installations
The Department of Fleet and Facility Management, Chicago Public Library, and the DOE assessed seventeen library branches in historically under-resourced communities across Chicago for solar installation potential. Four sites were identified, and two installations (at the South Chicago and Humboldt Park branches) are now operational, with two more currently under construction. The City also conducted full energy retrofits to maximize energy efficiency. These libraries are community gathering places, so the solar installations help make the space more comfortable for residents, while serving as an example of climate action at work. Following the launch of these solar-powered libraries, the City held a series of educational workshops about solar energy. Residents received practical resources on how to engage in the clean energy movement, including guidance on solar adoption, community solar options, and other actionable tools to support climate solutions. By bringing onsite solar energy generation to these buildings, the libraries have become both energy creators and community educators.
Win 3: The Climate Infrastructure Fund
Working with Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development, Wordlaw’s department helps manage a grantmaking fund that awarded nearly $10 million to nonprofits and small businesses across Chicago. These grants, ranging from $75,000 to $250,000, are already funding upgrades for 50 nonprofits and small businesses, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, cutting emissions, lowering utility costs, and improving community health.
What’s in It for Chicagoans?
Chicago’s momentum in sustainability and clean energy is translating into real, measurable benefits for residents. Through efficiency upgrades, households citywide can achieve over $220 million in annual utility bill savings and reduce carbon emissions by more than 2.5 million metric tons annually. The city’s clean energy sector is also booming, with over 65,000 jobs in the green economy, making Chicago in the top fifth highest among the top ten metro areas in this sector. Additionally, Chicagoans have access to community grants, empowering everyone to shape and benefit from a greener, more resilient city.
You can get involved by:
- Exploring your household’s “carbon footprint” or impact by checking out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) carbon footprint calculator and examine the resources available to address it.
- Participating in upcoming events, like the City Civics Day on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the University of Chicago’s David Rubenstein Forum in Woodlawn. This free, day-long event invites Chicagoans to connect with neighbors, community organizations, and City officials to learn how to get more involved in shaping local government and driving positive change in their communities. Presented by the Department of Planning and Development in collaboration with Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the day will feature interactive workshops, panels, and resources designed to empower civic engagement. Wordlaw will be moderating a panel discussion focused on Tree Equity and greening Chicago’s neighborhoods equitably.
Talking with Lindy Wordlaw was a real eye opener to the work that goes on through the City. Her passion for integrating equity into Chicago’s climate work makes the city’s progress feels hopeful. From hitting that 100% renewable energy mark for municipal buildings to rolling out solar on local libraries and channeling $10 million in grants for heat pumps and EV upgrades, it’s clear the 2022 Climate Action Plan is moving from paper to real world action, with jobs and resources reaching the folks who need them most. What stuck with me was her quiet conviction: these complex issues aren’t top down fixes, but require partnerships and collaboration that build trust and spark real change in everyday lives.
As she put it, “It’s exciting to put an aspirational goal out there and then achieve it.”
For Chicagoans, that’s the spark. Let’s grab it, get involved in these local efforts, and help turn momentum into something enduring.
Reader Question:
How can you contribute your voice or actions toward building a climate-resilient and equitable Chicago?