Kane County’s Climate Action Implementation Plan: Progress and Opportunities for 2025

The CAIP has two main goals:

• Direct voluntary climate efforts in unincorporated areas.

• Support local governments and public agencies in their sustainability initiatives.

In August 2024, Kane County established a climate implementation team to engage community members in advancing the CAIP. The team, composed of volunteers, was divided into seven groups, each focusing on a specific sector of the plan. Participants joined groups based on their interests and expertise, reviewing 10 to 25 proposed actions within their sector before selecting 16 priority actions for implementation. Team members then conducted in-depth research, analyzing government reports, academic studies, and news articles to assess the feasibility and benefits of those selected actions. Their work has laid the foundation for actionable steps toward achieving Kane County’s climate goals, already producing results.

The following are examples of actions currently in progress:

Kane County has long promoted healthy food in public schools. The Kane County Health Department’s Fit For Kids initiative has distributed several indoor hydroponic garden kits to enhance student learning in elementary and middle schools. Additionally, a federal grant helped one elementary school update its garden to provide produce to students and families in Aurora. Continuing this effort, Kane County staff seek to build on these past successes by securing additional grants to fund new school gardens. The key step is to create lasting partnerships with schools willing to take on this effort, empower teachers to manage the garden, and ensure the program endures through staff or administrative changes.

As part of the state’s goal to achieve a 100% carbon-free power sector by 2050, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) established the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program. This initiative aims to build a clean energy workforce in Illinois by providing training, certification programs, and internships. One such workforce hub is in Aurora, where the first cohort will begin on March 3rd. If you are interested in participating or learning more about the program, please click on this link or email CEJA@COD.edu.

Improving Waste & Recycling Communication (WM1-1): This action aligns with a recent Illinois EPA investment in an interactive tool and web app called Recycle Coach. As part of the County Recycling Program’s ongoing effort to educate residents on existing waste and recycling services, staff have enriched Recycle Coach with local information about “what goes where.” This web and mobile tool offers three key features: a calendar for waste and/or recycling pickup; answers to what items you can and cannot recycle (both curbside and through drop-offs); and educational content on recycling. You can access Recycle Coach on Kane County’s website here. 

From March to June, the climate implementation team will reconvene and continue their efforts to research additional actions and assist County staff with CAIP implementation. If you are interested in joining or learning more, attend our virtual info session on Zoom and our in-person meeting:

The meetings will provide an overview of the CAIP, help attendees understand the team’s structure, how the sector groups work, and the time commitments and expectations involved.

The Climate Action Implementation Plan is a voluntary plan that does not require any mandatory actions or impose changes that would affect local businesses or residents. It serves as a blueprint for communities within Kane County that wish to use it as a guide to develop their own initiatives and goals to reduce carbon emissions.