Cities Race to Zero

Bexley has joined cities around the world in a pledge to halve carbon emissions by 2030 – and reach net-zero emissions in the 2040s or sooner – to ensure a green and just recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, October 12, 2021 Mayor Kessler formally confirmed participation in the Cities Race to Zero campaign.

Ahead of this year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, the Race to Zero campaign aims to bring together the most powerful coalition in history of businesses, investors, cities, and regions working together to create jobs and tackle climate change.

Other Participating Cities

Albuquerque, NM
Ann Arbor, MI
Cincinnati, OH
Cuyahoga County, OH
Houston, TX
Louisville, KY
Oberlin, OH
Pittsburgh, PA
Bexley, OH

This Pledge in Action

In taking this pledge, elected officials and community leaders will work to:

CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE SOCIETY
Demonstrate how actions contribute to delivering social and economic benefits, to reducing inequality and to driving a just transition for workers, through carrying out a wider benefits or equity assessments for at least 2 priority city-wide transformative climate actions.

CREATE GREEN AND HEALTHY STREETS
Expand and improve walking, cycling and integrated transit access and identify potential areas for future zero emission zones by 2025.

ENSURE CLEAN AIR
Before 2025, implement new substantive policies and programs to address the top causes of air pollution emissions within our city and under our control by 2025.

DEVELOP ZERO CARBON BUILDINGS
Develop a roadmap to achieve net zero carbon new buildings from 2030.

ADVANCE TOWARDS ZERO WASTE
Ensure all waste generated in the city is being collected and residual waste is disposed of adequately in at least an engineered sanitary landfill.

CREATE SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
Create a food council, board, or committee with local stakeholders by 2025.

MOVE TOWARDS RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS
Lead by example by specifying low carbon materials and zero emission construction machinery in municipal procurement.

How Can I Take Action?

There are many ways individuals can take action at home, school, and work. Small habit changes add up overtime and help mirror sustainable actions behaviors among friends and peers. In Bexley, residents can take action in our #RaceToZero by implementing at least one (if not all!) of these ways:

ENROLL IN CURBSIDE COMPOSTING
The City offers curbside composting as a service to every household in Bexley. Food waste is collected in a separate receptacle than trash or recycling, and is collected on a weekly basis and diverted from the landfill.
Learn More or Enroll: bexley.org/food-waste

RECYCLE RIGHT
Becoming familiar with the items that can and cannot be recycled in Franklin County helps ensure materials are processed correctly after they've been disposed of.
Learn More: bexley.org/recycling

GET INVOLVED!
Green Bexley is a community organization whose goal is to assist the City in achieving its Zero Waste Goal by 2040. Get involved with Green Bexley in a variety of ways – whether volunteering, organizing events, or supporting a sustainable cause within the community!
Learn More: greenbexley.org