This summer, I had the pleasure of working at the local level with the City of Charlottesville’s Climate Program. I was thrilled to be at the intersection of government service and climate action. From analyzing the City’s new zoning report through a climate lens to drafting sections of the upcoming Climate Action Plan (CAP), I was able to support the City’s Climate team thanks to the skills I am developing in Batten’s MPP program.

The main priority for my summer’s work was supporting the CAP development. Alongside creating an outline and drafting certain sections, I participated in the planning of listening sessions and townhall workshops to hear directly from the community about their comments, concerns, and questions around climate action. I also researched peer cities’ plans and organized data on accountability metrics and indicators.

For context, The City of Charlottesville first committed to greenhouse gas reductions by joining the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in 2006. The City also signed onto the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in 2017. In 2019, City Council adopted goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% below 2011 levels by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The City is well on its way to hitting these marks. The CAP, which should be released this fall, will provide a framework for strategy and implementation.

Thank you to the City of Charlottesville and the Tadler Summer Fellowship Program for hosting me this summer! I am grateful to have gained tangible work experience at the local level in one of my favorite places, and I am excited to build upon this knowledge in my classes this fall. My hope is that this experience can be a stepping-stone toward a future permanent position in civic engagement and public service.