Background:
The establishment of a new director position of Climate and Resiliency is in recognition of the Board’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to our changing climate in ways that reduce vulnerabilities and ensure a more equitable and resilient Hennepin County as laid out in the Climate Action Plan.
A director level position is critical to implement and integrate the countywide framework in the Hennepin County Climate Action Plan. Paired with the disparity reduction focus this individual will operationalize the plan focusing on strategy development, alignment with sustainable sourcing priorities, and the intersections of the environment, county operations, public health, and diversity, equity and inclusion in support of the bold goals to make our communities healthier, our buildings and transportation choices sustainable, our environment cleaner, and our communities more resilient.
From an organizational structure perspective, a Climate and Resiliency director would be well positioned to work across Hennepin County departments and with external partners to develop and monitor metrics to ensure mutual accountability. This position will convene partners to further engage, educate and develop strategies, pursue collaborations for greater impact and raise a collective voice for climate policy to drive behavior and system change.
Additional rationale in support of a position at this level is the responsibility for budgetary, strategic and operational accountability as well as the County’s readiness to handle emerging issues.