Definitions.
Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-31-020
in effect2-31-020 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) “Climate Action Plan” means an inclusive, equitable, and ambitious plan for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the City, developed and issued publicly from time to time by the Chief Sustainability Officer and serving as the City’s official climate change mitigation and adaptation strategy and implementation plan, including for all City departments and offices.
(2) “Climate justice” means the movement to address the disparity between who is causing the climate crisis and who is most impacted by such climate crisis.
(3) “Community resilience” means the sustained ability of a community to use available resources to respond to, withstand, and recover from adverse situations.
(4) “Decarbonization” means the process of stopping or reducing carbon gases, especially carbon dioxide, from being released into the atmosphere.
(5) “Department” means the Department of the Environment established under this chapter.
(6) “Environmental equity” means an outcome and a process that results in fair and just access to environmental opportunities and resources as well as fair and just distribution of climate and environmental risks, such that all City residents have the ability to thrive.
(7) “Environmental requirements” means all local, state and federal environmental laws and regulations.
(8) “Environmentally significant protects and activities” means any project, activity or purchase undertaken by the City which:
(i) Requires the City to submit an Environmental Impact Statement, Environmental Assessment or statement of Finding of No Significant Impact to a state or federal agency, or for which an environment permit or license is required under applicable environmental requirements;
(ii) Involves construction or major rehabilitation (other than routine maintenance and repair) of buildings owned or leased, in whole or in part, by the City;
(iii) Involves the acquisition or disposition of real property by the City; or
(iv) Involves alterations to, construction, demolition, excavation, placement of fill on or in or discharges into: (A) Lake Michigan and all other bodies of water within the City; (B) shorelines and riverbanks; (C) the Lake Michigan lakefront; (D) parks or other public open space; (E) wetlands; (F) floodplains; and (G) floodways.
(9) “Green economy” means an economic sector that is low carbon, resource efficient, and socially inclusive. In a green economy, growth in employment and income are driven by public and private investment into such economic activities, infrastructure, and assets that allow reduced carbon emissions and pollution, enhanced energy and resource efficiency, and prevention of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
(Added Coun. J. 11-7-22, p. 54948, Art. I, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 12-20-25, p. 39283, Art. III, § 1)
Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2699547Fetched: 10/24/2026