Blog Action Day 2009: Detroit Initiatives #BAD09

The Spirit of Detroit is already "Green"!

 #BAD09

Dequindre Greenway

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Regional Mass Transit Options

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Detroit Michigan, the "Motor City", has several initiatives underway to address climate issues and global warming; as well as working with the regional authorities responsible for the Great Lakes. Four of the five Great Lakes have coasts along the Michigan borders: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, and Superior. Lake Erie does not have a Michigan coastline.

In honor of Blog Action Day 2009, please visit these websites for more information on the "Greening of Detroit".  #BAD09

Transition Detroit Initiative:
The Detroit Transition Initiative is about creating a proactive response to the dual threats of Peak Oil and Climate Change. We have the opportunity and potential to create a truly resilient and sustainable city. This is about remembering who we are and building community. This is about self sufficiency as well as mutual aid. 

Rebuilding and strengthening local agriculture and food/herb production, localizing energy production, rethinking healthcare and preventative health, rediscovering local building materials in the context of zero energy building, rethinking how we manage waste, reconnecting with the earth and one another, all build resilience - economic, cultural, and spiritual. 




Erb Family Foundation


The Erb Family Foundation’s mission is to nurture environmentally healthy and culturally vibrant communities in Metro Detroit, and support initiatives to restore the Great Lakes basin. The foundation is particularly focused on improving water quality, especially in the watersheds impacting metro Detroit and Bayfield, Ontario, promoting environmental health and justice and supporting arts as a means to revitalize the metropolitan Detroit region.  Beginning in July, DHDC will launch the Community Advocacy Project (CAP) whose aim is to train and support community advocates to more effectively address health disparities and environmental justice issues in Southwest Detroit.  The CAP will use an issues platform of environmental justice and an implementation strategy of advocacy rooted in rigorous policy training of youth and adults and community organizing to achieve its primary objectives:  Harnessing public awareness of environmental justice issues in SWD and using that awareness to create safer, healthier communities.


Michigan Climate Action Council



Michigan has undertaken various policy and program actions in several key areas, listed below. A brief description of the actions is listed below.

• Michigan will investigate and/or join the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). Becoming a member of the CCX includes achieving by 2010 a minimum 6 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2000 levels. For more information about the CCX go to http://www.chicagoclimatex.com/.

• The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) participates on the Steering Committee for the development of The Climate Registry, a multi-state program designed to be an essential piece of infrastructure for the development of state and federal climate change programs. Over thirty (30) states in the United States and Mexico, and several Canadian provinces have already signed on to join The Climate Registry. For more information about The Climate Registry go to http://www.theclimateregistry.org/.

• In November of 2007, the State of Michigan joined the newly formed Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, and is participating in a Midwest regional effort to establish greenhouse gas reduction targets and timeframes consistent with states’ policies; and to develop a market-based, multi-sector cap and trade program by November 2008.

City of Detroit Office of Energy and Sustainability

Among the plans:

• Take steps to cut energy costs borne by the city that could be as modest as changing the type of light bulbs.

• Create a "Green Council" comprised of representatives from city agencies to find ways to improve energy use in city buildings.

• Start "Green Thumbs Up," which will bird-dog by this spring parcels of city land to community groups for urban gardening.

• In July 2009, the city will implement a pilot curbside recycling program for 15,000 westside households and 15,000 eastside households.

Transportation Riders United