To boost its efforts to go green, Reno has hired a new sustainability manager. To learn more, our reporter Julia Ritchey caught up with their new hire.
Lynne Barker started her gig at the end of October after moving from Seattle, where she worked for a nonprofit focused on sustainable development.
She says the title of "sustainability manager" is becoming a more common one, for both corporations and cities.
"Sustainability managers use a collaborative process to identify goals and priorities that address equity, environment and economy."
The city has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions as much as 80 percent by 2050. One of the biggest obstacles to meeting that goal is Reno's dependence on cars.
"[We’re] going to have to try to motivate people to use different transportation choices."
And with a new construction boom underway, Barker says the city will need to encourage developers to adopt green-building practices such as using onsite renewable energy through solar panels.
As for her first order of business, Barker will be working on a greenhouse gas inventory and climate action plan.
She says it's important for Reno not only to strategize for the future, but to partner with other organizations and cities to tackle the problem of climate change regionally.