The National Weather Service said November 2023 tied for the Indianapolis area’s 34th warmest November since weather records began in 1871, placing it in the 78th percentile. Photo from Adobe Stock.

By Terri Dee
Indiana News Service

INDIANA — Indiana climate leaders gathered this month to share knowledge and create strategies to address the effects of climate change. Together, they are seeking solutions to reduce its impact.

The annual Indiana Sustainability and Resilience Conference, hosted by the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute, brought educators, climate professionals, and advocates together for discussions on strategies to decarbonize the built environment and focus on corporate climate leadership.

Bill Brown, assistant director for strategy and engagement for the institute, said one project is geared toward students.

“There’s a signature program that we run, called the McKinney Midwest Climate Project, that involves McKinney climate fellows who are placed with communities, corporations, and nonprofits,” Brown outlined. “They help those entities with their sustainability projects.”

Brown pointed out the Indiana Resilience Funding Hub program, which began last year, helps Hoosier communities with less than 50,000 residents secure federal funding for climate adaptation and renewal energy action.

Brown noted the Indiana Indiana Energy Independence Fund, a new nonprofit and green bank, has been developed to help residents lower their energy bills. A U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for urban green infrastructure will provide $26 million to Indiana communities. He added it was supported by the conference attendees’ progress after the creation of two climate action plans; one issued by the state, and the other from Indiana University.

“We have a lot of reasons to be hopeful about the future, because of all the action that’s been taking place and the grant funding that’s available now,” Brown emphasized. “Yes, these are critical times, and yes, there is something we can do about it.”

Indiana’s Comprehensive Climate Action Plan is a long-term proposal to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions statewide. An action plan is due to the federal Environmental Protection Agency next month. Indiana University’s strategy aims to decarbonize all of its campuses using science, technology and data.