paleBLUEdot was selected by the City of Bloomington for the City’s first Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Climate Action Plan.  Bloomington is nestled in the rolling hills of southern Indiana and home to 85,000 residents and serves as a home away from home for tens of thousands of Indiana University students and alumni.  

The City of Bloomington has a long-standing commitment to sustainability. City programs and community efforts focused on energy conservation, waste reduction, solar development, and the growth of the local food market have established Bloomington as a regional sustainability leader.  The City of Bloomington addresses sustainability through careful attention to environmental, economic, and social equity issues. Sustainability and livability are guiding principles and are considered to be foundational to quality, long-lasting economic and community development

Bloomington’s vision is to be climate resilient, leading in the social and economic transitions necessary to reduce citywide greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement, while protecting Bloomington’s natural ecosystems, most vulnerable populations, and economic vitality against the increasing impacts of climate change. 

The Climate Vulnerability Assessment will provide a detailed review of the anticipated climate-related risks to people, infrastructure, and natural resources in Bloomington and Monroe County. The assessment will also consider the potential impacts on the local energy, economic, and food systems due to a changing climate.  This assessment will detail how climate change is affecting Bloomington now, identify current and future climate vulnerabilities, and how those vulnerabilities will change in coming decades.  The plan will also recommend strategies for the City and community to prepare for and adapt to local climate change effects and reduce carbon emissions over the next 10 years.

The paleBLUEdot Climate Action Plan effort will include:

1. Detailed review of City Greenhouse Gas Inventory and characteristics

2. Development of a Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment meeting Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) requirements

3. Defining a city-specific emissions mitigation target based on Bloomington Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories

4. Recommend city-specific climate adaptation and mitigation actions that the city and community can undertake with an analysis of barriers and opportunities.

5. Leading Climate Action Planning Public Engagement

6. Development of the Climate Action Plan and Implementation Matrix

7. Development of Communications Campaign for the first year of climate action implementation

The paleBLUEdot team is honored to work with the City of Bloomington in developing the community’s first Climate Action Plan. 

The paleBLUEdot team provides a wide range of expert consultant services supporting community resilience, including Climate Action Planning, Sustainability Consulting, and Renewable Energy Planning.  Learn more about paleBLUEdot's Climate Action Planning services here.