About
The Office of Climate Action & Resilience is working to help Austin prepare for and respond to the challenges of climate change while ensuring a more just and sustainable future for all. This work is rooted in the principles of sustainability. With this lens, we seek to find a balance among three sets of goals:
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People & EquityEnsuring community health, equity, and cultural vitality. |
Planet & EnvironmentPracticing conservation for the health of our environment. |
Economy & ProsperitySupporting prosperity and promoting jobs. |
- What We Do
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Brief and advise City of Austin department directors, the City Manager, Boards & Commissions, the Mayor, and City Council about issues related to climate, food, air quality, and resilience in City policies, programs, and initiatives.
Oversee and coordinate activities with departments that accomplish operational objectives sustainably, including green purchasing, energy conservation, recycling, green building, resource and water conservation, greenhouse gas reduction, and environmental reporting metrics.
Manage the Climate Program, Food Program, and related actions to reduce the City’s carbon footprint, build a more sustainable food system, and be more resilient to the effects of climate change.
Offer educational outreach on climate action, conservation, and sustainability initiatives to engage the community in making sustainability a priority — at home, at work, and all around town. We seek ways to inspire Austinites to take action for a bright green future for all of our community.
Promote partnerships and work with community members, organizations, and other government agencies to establish programs and practices in support of our work.
- History & Accomplishments
Office Leadership
- Zach Baumer, Office of Climate Action & Resilience Director
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Zach Baumer
Director, Office of Climate Action & Resilience
Zach Baumer leads the Office of Climate Action and Resilience, providing strategic direction to meet our city’s goal of net-zero community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Zach previously led the office's efforts to address climate change as the Climate Program Manager.
Before joining the City of Austin in 2011, Zach served as a Sustainability and Environmental Consultant. In that capacity, he collaborated with major private corporations and public entities to create and manage overall sustainability strategies that included calculating greenhouse gas inventories, developing tracking and monitoring protocols, and creating emissions reduction plans. In this capacity, he prepared a Corporate Sustainability Report for CPS Energy, provided a Sustainability Plan and staff training program for Tennessee Valley Authority, performed an evaluation of a carbon offset project for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, and completed a Climate Action Plan Cost-Benefit Analysis for the City of Palo Alto.
Zach is a LEED Accredited Professional with an MBA in Sustainable Management from the Presidio School of Management in San Francisco. Zach is a native of Indianapolis and holds undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from Purdue University.
- Marc Coudert, Climate Adaptation & Resilience Manager
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Marc Coudert
Climate Adaptation & Resilience Manager
As the Climate Resilience and Adaptation Manager in the City of Austin Office of Climate Action & Resilience, Marc Coudert works with city departments to embed climate adaptation strategies into long-term operation and asset management planning. In this role, he also supports community organizers to increase climate resilience in the Eastern Crescent.
Marc received a Certificate in Climate Change and Health from the Yale School of Public Health, a Master of Science in Sustainable Design from the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning from Arizona State University Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.
- Braden Latham-Jones, Climate Program Manager
Braden Latham-Jones
Climate Program Manager
Braden Latham-Jones is the Climate Program Manager in the Office of Climate Action & Resilience, where he leads the City’s Climate team and drives progress on the Austin Climate Equity Plan and the Comprehensive Climate Implementation Program.
A social worker and trained community organizer, Braden brings over 15 years of experience in grassroots advocacy, policy, and strategic planning across local and federal levels. His work spans climate, labor, and immigration, with a background in community engagement, communications, and office management. In his current role, he guides City and community efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the root causes of climate change.
Braden earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, specializing in community organizing and systems change. He’s also a certified wildlife tracker who spends his free time gardening, climbing, and exploring the wild beauty of Texas landscapes.
- Edwin Marty, Food Policy Manager
Edwin Marty
Food Policy Manager
As the City of Austin's Food Policy Manager, Edwin Marty is responsible for advancing initiatives that build a healthy and equitable local food system.
Before joining the City of Austin's Office of Climate Action and Resilience, Edwin consulted on numerous urban farm projects around the country, helped establish the Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network, and co-authored a book about urban farming in America called Breaking Through Concrete. Edwin worked for Southern Living Magazine as a garden writer and was the Founder and Director of Jones Valley Teaching Farm, a non-profit located in Birmingham, Alabama. Edwin also served as the Director of a non-profit urban farm in Montgomery called EAT South.
Edwin earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon and completed an Apprenticeship in Agroecology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He went on to work on sustainable farming projects around the world, including Mexico, Mongolia, Australia, and Chile.
- Shannon Stewart, Communications Manager
Shannon Stewart
Communications Manager
Shannon Stewart is the Communications Manager for the City of Austin's Office of Climate Action & Resilience. With over 15 years of experience in communications and public relations, Shannon has dedicated her career to promoting sustainability initiatives and programs to address climate change. Shannon has been working with the Office of Climate Action & Resilience since 2010, using her experience to craft compelling messaging and storytelling to make complex environmental issues accessible and engaging to diverse audiences.
Shannon earned her undergraduate degree from Texas State University where she developed a strong foundation in visual communication and storytelling. She has continued to build on this foundation through professional development and training, including certification as a Texas Master Naturalist, which deepened her understanding of Texas ecosystems and strengthened her commitment to environmental education, conservation, and volunteering.
Through her work, Shannon aims to inspire and cultivate a culture of climate action in Austin and beyond.