Elgin Area Climate Action NOW

Many thanks to the Elgin City Council for the Single Use Bag Ordinance!!!! It has been a long time in the making, congratulations to the council for finally bringing it forward!

Elgin is taking steps toward banning single-use plastic checkout bags at major retailers — but the change won't happen right away.

On Feb. 25, the City Council voted to move the proposed ordinance forward. If approved at the March 11 meeting, it wouldn't take effect until June 2027.

The extended timeline gives the community and retailers plenty of time to prepare and learn more about the transition.

To learn more, visit elginil.gov/BagOrdinance

CLIMATE TIPPING POINTS: A recently released report stated that coral reefs have been the first environment to reach their temperature "tipping point," which will result in massive bleaching and die-off events worldwide. https://www.wfla.com/news/climate-tipping-point-crossed-as-coral-reefs-reach-irreversible-damage-researchers-warn/

https://global-tipping-points.org

Global Tipping Points | understanding risks & their potential impact Harmful tipping points in the natural world threaten humanity by disrupting life support systems and societal stability.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/03/world-in-15tn-plastics-crisis-hitting-health-from-infancy-to-old-age-report-warns?CMP=share_btn_url

World in $1.5tn ‘plastics crisis’ hitting health from infancy to old age, report warns Plastic production has increased more than 200 times since 1950 and hits health at every stage from extraction to disposal, says review in the Lancet

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/18/only-two-years-left-of-world-carbon-budget-to-meet-15c-target-scientists-warn-climate-crisis?utm_term=6853edb8e6f79df1ee8d17d17bfdd020&utm_campaign=USMorningBriefing&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=usbriefing_email

Only two years left of world’s carbon budget to meet 1.5C target, scientists warn Breaching threshold would ramp up catastrophic weather events, further increasing human suffering

You're Invited!
Climate Action & Resiliency Plan Open House
📅 Thursday, June 26
🕓 4:00–7:00 PM
📍 Gail Borden Rakow Branch – Shales Living Room
(2751 W Bowes Rd, Elgin)

Drop in anytime to learn about the draft, talk with City staff and share your feedback!

💻 View the plan and leave a comment online: elgincap.mysocialpinpoint.com

Thank you Elgin Sustainability Commission for your actions last evening to make 2 recommendations to City Council: 1. a general recommendation for the city to work on decreasing use of plastics in general! and 2. a recommendation for a single-use bag ordinance!

Many many many thanks to the commission members, chair Tom Armstrong, staff Kristin Iftner, and Councilwoman Carol Rauschenberger!!!!

Now the discussion moves to the City Council this evening - be there if you can in support!

A discussion of a single-use bag ordinance is on the agenda for this week's Elgin City Council "Committee of the Whole" meeting that starts at 6 pm tomorrow, Wednesday, April 23, in the city hall on the 2nd floor.

If you can be there to express support for a single-use bag ordinance, please please do come!

Plan to arrive before 6 so you can sign up to speak in the public comments section. Or if you are shy of speaking in public, maybe bring a small sign to show your support for an ordinance!

Hoping to see you there!

"Electrify Everything" is a workshop to be presented by Elgin's own Laren Corie at Gail Borden Library next Thursday, April 17, at 7 p.m. The event will review the many ways we can electrify our homes and lives and move away from fossil fuels as we do. There is no cost but the library is asking attendees to register at https://attend.gailborden.info/event/12565100

Please plan to be there!