“…(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.
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.
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.
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.