(a) The Chief Sustainability Officer and the Department shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
(1) To develop a coordinated and comprehensive equity-focused environmental policy agenda for the City aimed at protecting residents and conserving the City's natural resources, to encourage and promote the resiliency, adaptation, and long-term sustainability of the City's streets, built environment, parkways, waterways, natural areas, and shoreline for the benefit of all residents;
(2) To provide strategic coordination and guidance for systematic reform of processes, practices, and functions for the City aimed at advancing sustainability, environmental justice, community resilience, and climate mitigation;
(3) To guide City departments in creating, monitoring, and reporting on climate and environmental policy and programs in order to achieve the goals of the City's Climate Action Plan and other regional, state, national, and international climate agreements;
(4) To develop a coordinated and comprehensive energy policy and initiatives for the City to improve energy efficiency and decarbonization across the City and encourage innovation in renewable energy and affordability and access in the generation, storage, distribution, conversion, and consumption of energy;
(5) To develop policies and plans for waste reduction, diversion, and improved recycling policies and programs throughout the City, and to advance policies and recommendations consistent with the Chicago waste strategy;
(6) To encourage and conduct studies, investigations and research relating to the physical, chemical, engineering, meteorological, and other aspects of environmental management, planning, and mitigation, independently or in conjunction with other federal, state, and local agencies and organizations, City departments and sister agencies, as the Chief Sustainability Officer may deem advisable and necessary;
(7) To develop plans and proposals for joint cooperative investigation and research with public and private agencies and organizations on methods for reducing or eliminating land, air, and water pollution, with the goal of reducing emissions, advancing climate and environmental justice, and improving quality of life for all residents;
(8) To educate and communicate to City departments, other governmental bodies, community and civic organizations, and the public as to the status and progress of the City of Chicago's sustainability and environmental and climate justice efforts, as well as opportunities for collaboration and innovation;
(9) To function as the City's central source for such research, literature, educational materials and other information regarding land, air and water pollution, energy efficiency and innovation, climate change, city-wide sustainability and environmental protection;
(10) To collaborate and partner with sister agencies and non-governmental bodies in developing policies, initiatives, and planning efforts aimed at integrating equity and racial justice goals into mitigating climate change and accelerating an equitable green economy; and
(11) To enter into grant agreements, cooperation agreements and other agreements or contracts with governmental entities, private business, and civic and community groups to implement environmental enhancement, protection, and sustainability programs, and to enter into and execute all such other instruments and to perform any and all acts, including the allocation and expenditure of funds subject to appropriation therefor, as shall be necessary or advisable in connection with the implementation of such agreements, including any renewals thereto.
(b) All City departments and, to the extent permitted by law, sister agencies shall work cooperatively with the Chief Sustainability Officer to advance the environmental, climate, energy, and sustainability goals of the City. The Mayor shall ensure sufficient funding for the Department of the Environment to faithfully and fully execute these requirements.
(Added Coun. J. 11-7-22, p. 54948, Art. I, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-23, p. 6542, Art. II, § 1)