By Virak Kchao, USCM Intern
July 25, 2005

Columbus (OH) Mayor Michael Coleman is taking a leadership role in environmental stewardship in the 21st century. Coleman is promoting a “Get Green” campaign to the city’s business community, regional partners, and its residents. He not only has concerns for current generations but is looking to ensure the city is environmentally sound for future generations. The city’s administration has drawn up a Green Memo that shows its policy guidance on a variety of areas to make the city environmentally safe and friendly. Its main priorities are to collaborate with city agencies and community leaders, improve recycling efforts, improve outdoor and indoor air quality, water quality, and promote green businesses development. The mayor also plans to create the Public Environmental Advisory Council to advise the Administration on environmental policy and find resources for environmental initiatives. Columbus faces some major challenges. Since 2004, central Ohio’s air quality was declared a non-attainment area, in which the area posed a health threat to its citizens and gave way to the possibility of federal sanctions. In addition, Columbus’ landfill will soon close and the cost of opening a new one will cost millions. And finally, Columbus’s development practices promote sprawl and have a huge impact on their natural resources.

Columbus faces some major challenges. Since 2004, central Ohio’s air quality was declared a non-attainment area, in which the area posed a health threat to its citizens and gave way to the possibility of federal sanctions. In addition, Columbus’ landfill will soon close and the cost of opening a new one will cost millions. And finally, Columbus’s development practices promote sprawl and have a huge impact on their natural resources.

Columbus is attempting to clean up its city starting with its waste disposal problem. The city wants to increase its purchase of green products, which are materials that are recycled and can be recycled. Also, it plans to work with federal and state officials to find strategies that stop the dumping of garbage from out of state into Ohio. Columbus also wants to buy new vehicles that are fuel efficient and reduce emissions plus retrofit the city’s on-road and off-road vehicles. Constructing and remodeling city public facilities to make them green buildings is one way the city plans to be more fuel efficient and allow the use of alternative energy sources. These new green buildings will be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) established by the U.S Green Building Council which will have profound positive effects on the cities air and water quality.

One of Columbus’s main efforts is to advocate education of its citizens. The city plans on helping its community be better recyclers by getting businesses, private garbage haulers, and government leaders to communicate on what steps are necessary to improve recycling. Also, working with public and private sectors, they want to launch a campaign to promote use of green products and processes. The city wants to help citizens make homes healthier by making available general publications on indoor health issues for the public. Columbus will create a clearinghouse to make water quality data available to city managers and citizens that will help improve on community decisions that impact water quality. The city also has plans to clean up its Brownfield sites that are critical to opening opportunities for business, housing and parks. These new initiatives and tactics allow Columbus to lead U.S cities into greater environmental stewardship.