The City of South Bend hosted 2nd annual Climate Action Planning Open House

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Community members came to the IU Civil Rights Heritage Center to listen to climate change advocates, hear out a panel comprised of Climate Action Ambassadors and to share their own ideas and concerns.

The Director of Sustainability for the city of South Bend, Alex Bazan, spoke about the effects of climate change now, and in the future.

“We see extreme heat, we see extreme flooding, precipitation. We’re seeing it in greater intensity and more frequently,” said Bazan.

Part of the city's action plan they shared with the community was focused on adapting to climate change by preparing for disasters, having resilient buildings and green infrastructure.

The event was full of organizations with booths full of information promoting green choices and sustainable projects. Among those at booths was landscape design intern for Troyer Group, Dominic Catanzarite, who spoke about going green in South Bend.

“It’s really important for the earth, for the people here in South Bend and hopefully it will inspire other cities and other states to follow in suit,” said Catanzarite

The first Climate Action Planning Open House was in 2019, where they set a goal of eliminating pollution by the year 2050, with the city requiring the plan to be updated every five years. The next update to the plan will happen in 2029.

The city is asking community members to participate in online mini surveys on their website, where you can also find updates and more information on the planning process.