City Sustainability Office expands climate action efforts and employee engagement programs

The City Council meeting held on July 7, 2025, focused on various sustainability initiatives and community engagement efforts led by the Office of Sustainability. The meeting began with a recap of the year’s highlights, including a bimonthly collaboration with C3, which features discussions on sustainability topics. The next meeting in this series is scheduled for August 10, focusing on transit and mobility.

The Office of Sustainability also presented an updated climate action guide, which now includes resilience strategies alongside adaptation efforts. A new employee engagement program, Working in a Sustainable Environment (WISE), was launched to help city staff incorporate sustainability into their daily work. Various events, such as a plant swap and extreme heat first aid training, have been organized to foster staff engagement.

The council discussed the city’s participation in state-level policy activities, including comments on proposed amendments to shared solar rules and integrated resource plans from large utilities. Additionally, the city is collaborating with other jurisdictions on an amicus brief related to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

Efforts to promote community awareness about extreme heat safety were highlighted, with educational resources being disseminated to help residents stay safe during high temperatures. The meeting also showcased successful community events, including climate cafes that have covered topics like electric vehicles and invasive plants.

A partnership with the Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) was announced, involving a bus wrap art contest where community members submitted sustainability-themed designs. Voting for the winning designs is currently open.

The meeting concluded with a look ahead to the upcoming fiscal year, where the Office of Sustainability noted a reduction in new initiatives compared to the previous year, emphasizing a focus on ongoing projects and community engagement.