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"...(T)he best time to act was yesterday. The next best time is today, so let’s get to work."
~ Dr. Missy Stults, Sustainability and Innovations Director, City of Ann Arbor
Missy works with all city operations, residents, businesses, the University of Michigan, nonprofits, and others to make Ann Arbor one of the most sustainable and equitable cities in America. Previously she worked with local governments and indigenous communities around the nation to advance their climate and sustainability goals, including during her time as the Climate Director at ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and as a consultant to philanthropic organizations. Missy has a Ph.D. (urban resilience) from the University of Michigan, a M.A. (Climate and Society) from Columbia University, and B.S. (Marine Biology and Environmental Science) from the University of New England. In addition to the many challenges of her work, she has also twice survived being hit by a car.
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What is a very simplified explanation of what you do?
I help make sure that people have clean air, clean water, clean homes, and safe ways to move about our community. I also make sure that we are doing everything in our power to address climate change and ensure that you, your friends, and your family can be safe, healthy, and enjoy a high quality of life.
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What is the A²ZERO plan?
A2ZERO is Ann Arbor’s plan, framework, strategy, and goal for how we will achieve a just transition to community-wide carbon neutrality by the year 2030. It’s a living plan that changes based on the realities of our time, the strategic opportunities before us, and the lessons learned by ourselves and from our peers.
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How does capturing CO2 figure into Ann Arbor's future plans?
We know that, despite our best efforts, we will not have all sources of carbon emissions gone from the community in 2030. That is why we are looking at various tools to increase carbon storage. Largely, we are looking at how to invest in our natural systems to enhance natural carbon sequestration. We are also looking at some external programs that might help sequester or reduce carbon in other parts of the state and country that we can invest in and capture the carbon credits for.
You have been described as a “force of nature” because of all the things that you are able to accomplish. What are some of the accomplishments that you are most proud of?
First, that’s very generous. I also imagine it goes all ways that forces of nature go – good, destructive, powerful, unexpected. Ha.
As to the things I’m most proud of – I’m thrilled that we have one of the world’s most aggressive climate plans. I’m humbled that Ann Arborites voted overwhelmingly to tax themselves for 20 years to fund climate work and implement our A2ZERO plan. Simply Amazing!
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I’m in awe of the great people in our Office and at the City that I get to work with every day. I’m thrilled at our work to expand resilience in the community, to launch a Sustainable Energy Utility, to invest in a more local circular economy, to center equity in all of these efforts, and to challenge what’s possible every day. I sometimes tire myself out with our many efforts, but I’m also amazed and thrilled with the opportunity to face the greatest challenges of our time together with a team of exceptional leaders and doers. As I often say, the best time to act was yesterday. The next best time is today, so let’s get to work.
Have you faced obstacles along the way & if so, how did you deal with them?
Of course! If this work was easy, it would have already been done. Sometimes the biggest obstacle is that we have to do so many things, all at once, given the urgency of the moment. It would be a pleasure if we could work on one thing at a time, but the severity and urgency of our climate crisis doesn’t allow us to do that. It would be great if we had an unlimited budget, or at least a budget that is commiserate with the challenge we are facing. We don’t. And wouldn’t it be great to have all the human and social capital you needed to execute on all the things that are required? Of course, but we don’t.
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Moreover, we are working within a legal and regulatory framework that is largely failing us. It’s working really well if you want to exacerbate an extractive system, but if you want to be restorative, there’s some work to do, starting with changing a bunch of laws and regulations. Basically, there are hurdles, obstacles, and stumbling blocks at every corner.
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But I also get to work, as mentioned above, with some of the best folk in the world to tackle these challenges — literally! The City Attorney’s office helps me find innovative solutions every week. The City Clerk’s office is actively integrating sustainability into our election process. Our Police and Fire Chiefs understand how resilience and sustainability are tied to their missions and the health and safety of their officers and firefighters. The Mayor and City Administrator enable us to do incredible things, and the amazing staff in the Office of Sustainability and Innovations have dedicated their professional (and lots of their personal) time to the climate fight. I’m so lucky to come to work every day! The days aren’t easy, but they are always meaningful.
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** Registration for GCI's May LCA/TEAWorkshop opens on Friday, March 1, 2024. **
Watch our website and social media channels for more information.
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#RSCPoster
midday March 5 - midday March 6, 2024
The event brings together the global chemistry community to network with colleagues across the world and at every career stage, share their research and engage in scientific debate.
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