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Mayor Reed has committed to raise Atlanta’s from its current ranking of 19 to a ranking of 10 among the nation’s most sustainable cities. His goals stretch from indoors to outdoors with his aim to create more green buildings as well as to reclaim and create more parks and greenspace in the city. Such targets should increase green jobs in Atlanta, improve transit, fill in gaps in local food, and hopefully increase our chances for federal funding that we’ve missed out on in the past for not being an eco-friendly enough city.

So what changes does Mayor Reed propose? Read on:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the city 25 percent by 2020, 40 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050 (Reed hopes to seek state support with stricter legislation on greenhouse gases – a tall order in a state not exactly known for its environmental friendliness).
• Reduce energy use for existing municipal operations 15 percent by 2020, 40 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050 (starting with government buildings and setting goals for departmental leadership in city agencies).
• Reduce leakage from the city’s water system by 50 percent by 2015.
• Make renewable energy 5 percent of total municipal use by 2015.
• Bring local food within 10 minutes of 75 percent of all residents by 2020 (by encouraging grocery stores and “infill agriculture” by supporting community gardens, starting with a plot next to City Hall).