Check out our full calendar of events for the entire month!
Monday, April 18, 2022
12:00pm CDT Earth Week Kick-off Plant Swap
Chicago Studies and the Program on the Global Environment
Open to – Students, Faculty, OAAs, Staff
In person: Register here
Join Chicago Studies and PGE for our Earth Week Plant Swap
Kick off Earth Week with the Chicago Studies and PGE Plant Swap! In preparation for Spring, bring in your plant cuttings and take some new plants home with you. Simply propagate a healthy section of your houseplant, or grab some extra seeds, and stop by the Urban Lounge at 1155 E. 60th street! Light refreshments will also be served.
Don’t have any plants to share? No worries, come pick up your first one! There will be plenty of plants to go around.
1:30pm CDT West Campus Combined Utility Plant (WCCUP) Walking Tour
Office of Sustainability
Open to – Students, Faculty, OAAs, Staff
In person: Register here
Walking tour of the West Campus Combined Utility Plant provides an in-depth look at the processes responsible for the transmission and distribution of critical utilities such as steam and chilled water across campus and to the medical center.
5:30pm CDT Addressing Climate Change in Illinois
Institute of Politics
Open to – Students, Faculty, OAAs, Staff
In Person at Quad Club: Register here
Addressing climate change in Illinois – Rising sea levels, tropical rainstorms, and flooding—in the U.S., climate change appears as a story best understood in its coastal regions. But in the American Midwest, this story takes on a different appearance. Rising temperatures have made winter shorter and, in many places, more mild. Tornadoes have become more common in large cities and suburbs. In Chicago, the city’s lakeshore has been slowly eroding as rainfall has increased.
In 2021, Illinois lawmakers passed sweeping legislation to combat the dangers of climate change and make the state more environmentally-friendly with commitments towards clean energy and decarbonization.
With bipartisan support, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act will require Illinois to be dependent on 100% renewable energy by 2050. Its objectives are vast: implementing reduction requirements in coal plants, expanding economic opportunities for disadvantaged communities, and cleaning up the transportation sector. Through this multi-pronged approach, Illinois hopes to become a leader in ensuring clean air and a stabler climate.
The legislation, which had long-been discussed and debated, was formed after a coalition of environmental justice advocates, unions, business groups and policymakers were able to reach a deal that will allow the state to reduce its carbon footprint while also developing well-paying clean energy jobs.
Joining us for a conversation about the passage of the new law and what it means for the future of Illinois are:
Pat Devaney, Secretary Treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO Christian Mitchell, Deputy Governor of Illinois focusing on Public Safety, Infrastructure, Energy & Environment Illinois state Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris. This event will be moderated by WBEZ reporter Michael Puente.
If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact Christine Hurley.
Want more Earth Week content? Check out these events taking place nationally and globally:
April 18-24
Earth Week Film Fest
One Earth Film Festival
Virtual – view screenings and get tickets here
April 19
TED Talk: Eco-Edition – Earth Month
Virtual – details here
April 21-23
48 Hour Earth Day
Democracy Lab
Virtual – details here
Countdown to Earth day
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
https://www.epa.gov/earthday
April 22
Earth Day Live: Debating Planet Earth’s Urgent Issues
EARTHDAY.ORG
Virtual – details here
To find more events around the world: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2022/