Climate change is threatening residents of Minneapolis, with hotter temperatures, destructive storms, extreme precipitation events, flooding, and changing ecosystems. The least advantaged people are impacted the most and scientists predict these effects will worsen over the coming decades.
A key strategy for mitigating the effects of climate change is to expand the tree canopy coverage. Trees sequester carbon, capture stormwater, filter air pollutants, cool streets and buildings, and provide wildlife habitat. According to a University of Minnesota study, our tree canopy will continue to decline without action.
Climate Resiliency Initiative
Green Minneapolis’ Climate Resiliency Initiative is a public/private partnership focused on significantly expanding the urban tree canopy across the City of Minneapolis and the 7 county Twin Cities metropolitan area. Designed to address the most harmful impacts of climate change on our region’s residents, it is a 20 year vision to increase the Metro area’s tree canopy by 30% through planting and maintaining millions of additional trees on public and private lands. This initiative includes identifying new funding sources for tree planting and maintenance, including establishing Minnesota’s first Urban Tree Carbon Offset Program.
Read more about Green Minneapolis’ Climate Resiliency Initiative.
Carbon Offset Program
A key component of the Climate Resiliency Initiative is the establishment of the first urban forestry carbon offset program in Minnesota.
Carbon Offset Programs allow businesses or individuals to offset their environmental footprint by paying for carbon credits from other entities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Climate Resiliency Initiative will bring together individuals and companies that are taking action on their environmental footprint by investing in the local tree canopy and community.
Calculate your own environmental footprint here.
Those interested in investing in the Climate Resiliency Initiative to reduce their environmental footprint can make a donation. All funds raised for the Initiative will go towards promoting the initiative.
Benefits of The Climate Resiliency Initiative
Resources Library
- Seeing Community Through The Trees
- A Blueprint For Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets To Meet The Climate Challenge
- Want to Understand Carbon Credits?
- With $7.1 Million, University of Minnesota and Partners to Launch a Long-term Program to Study Urban Nature in the Twin Cities
- Being around trees and other greenery may help teens stave off depression
- The Miyawaki Method: A Better Way to Build Forests?
- Since When Have Trees Only Existed for Rich Americans?
- What Technology Could Reduce Heat Deaths? Trees.
- We Need Trees, and Trees Need Us
- Turn Off the Sunshine: Why Shade Is a Mark of Privilege in Los Angeles
- Why an East Harlem Street is 31 Degrees Hotter Than Central Park West
- The Trees Might Save Us Yet
- Growing Shade for a More Livable Region