Are we experiencing a winter wonderland or a winter wasteland?
If you need motivation to have a sustainable holiday, consider this: every year, at least 12,500 tons of holiday decorations, 141,525 tons of food packaging, and 30,000 tons of holiday cards end up in landfills. Imagine the numbers when considering gift packaging, food waste, and unused gifts. All of these contributions to holiday waste are entirely avoidable. Follow these tips to help support a greener holiday season.
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I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by giving away over 100,000 secondhand garments a year for free — from the Austin community back to the Austin community.
Meet our newest Net-Zero Hero: Kelley Rytlewski! Founder of Heartening, Kelley is on a mission to take meaningful action to reduce waste, connect community, and build a more sustainable future in Austin. Wh…
The 2023 Resilience Mini Grants Program awarded $78,000 in funding to support community organizations that play key roles in community preparedness, recovery, and response to extreme weather events. The program aimed to support the important work of community organizations and build bridges between the City and community-facing groups. Recipients were selected based on their project proposal, past success in building resilience in Austin, and their lived experience connecting them to their work.
After one year, recipients reported the results of their awards. Overall, 26 projects were funded, and over 20,000 community members benefited. Examples of awar…
Throughout this fall, members of the Office of Sustainability team have had the opportunity to join other national and global climate leaders in events centered on learning from one another, sharing challenges, and celebrating successes. These opportunities offer the Office of Sustainability a chance to share our work on a larger scale and develop lasting relationships with those in similar roles, all working towards a more just and sustainable future. Read on to hear about where we’ve been!
Representing at New York Climate Week
This September, Chief Sustainability Officer Zach Baumer was invited to present on a panel as part of…
I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by transforming discarded materials into vibrant art and empowering community through creativity.
Meet our newest Net-Zero Hero: Carmen Rangel. Carmen is a community artist and co-founder of …
Halloween is one of the most fun holidays of the year! However, all those tricks and treats can lead to a significant impact on our planet. The scariest part of Halloween might be the amount of waste produced due to the holiday. So, don’t be a monster (unless that's your costume), and make this Halloween a little greener this year!
I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by being authentic and teaching people how to better relate to their relatives in the outdoors.
The Office of Sustainability recognizes that climate change is inextricably linked to humanity’s long history of inequality and injustice perpetuated by legac…
Join us in welcoming our newest team member: Molly Ellsworth! Molly is stepping into the role of Environmental Program Coordinator, where she will be working to support climate resilience efforts and advancing the goals of Austin's Climate Equity Plan. We asked Molly a few questions to learn more about her passions, her journey to this work, and wha…
We're excited to welcome Braden Latham-Jones, the Office of Sustainability's newest team member! Braden joins our team in the role of Climate Program Manager, where he will lead the City's Climate team and build partnerships in support of the Austin Climate Equity Plan. We asked Braden a few questions to learn more about him, his passions, and what drew him to th…
I’m helping to make Austin Net-Zero by supporting eco-conscious organizations through social, financial, and, most importantly, hands-on work within our community.
As we enter a new school year, we’re excited to celebrate student innovation and local youth climate action — and Elijah Scott is a shining example! Last year, Elijah joined the …