The movement for environmental sustainability is at a complicated juncture right now. But no one should think that the movement isn’t still very much active. After all, the Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability will be having its 2026 Sustainability Forum in the downtown Ann Arbor District Library on January 27.
“We are thrilled to bring back this annual series,” Missy Stults, director of Ann Arbor’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations, wrote in a press release. “The Forums not only provide an opportunity for important dialog between City staff and the community but also highlight and celebrate the incredible work other local leaders and organizations are doing to support sustainability and climate action in Ann Arbor.”
This will be the first of a five part series of free panel discussions. This first one on Tuesday evening will be called New Initiatives for a New Year: Charting a Path for Sustainability Progress in 2026.
At this panel you will be able to, in the words of the press release, “focus on the City’s new and exciting sustainability initiatives, programs, and commitments for this new year.”
The three person discussion will go from 6-7:30pm. According to a press release, three speakers will be:
- Shoshannah Lenski, executive director of the Ann Arbor’s Sustainable Energy Utility
- Jerrell Wylie, energy official of the City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations
- DeAndré Calvert, engagement manager of the City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations
“Many residents are asking about what service they can receive from the SEU and when. At the forum, we will share our vision for what SEU service will look like for residents and businesses; what key steps we’ve taken over the last 6 months to prepare for that; and what the timeline looks like from here on out,” Stults said.
The succeeding forums will be on a monthly basis through the spring. The next forums are on February 24, March 31, April 28 and May 26, according to the City of Ann Arbor.
Ann Arborites have routinely voted for environmentalist and sustainable development initiatives going back decades. We are less than half a decade away from the A2ZERO 2030 deadline to be a fully sustainable community.
When asked about how much information that the public will be able to get at the forum on how far Ann Arbor is from realistically achieving this, Stults answered: “The Forum will be an opportunity for folk to hear from and engage with multiple organizations helping the City and region move forward on its climate goals. No matter what folk are interested in – circular economy, transportation, energy, land use, resilience—we have programs and community stakeholders available to explore engagement opportunities because this movement is for everyone”
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A lot of the changes to where America is positioned in fighting climate change have come from the changes brought in by the second Trump administration. Trump routinely calls climate change “a hoax” and has taken anti-climate science to the heart of his administration’s agenda.
When asked about how much information Ann Arborites will be able to get on how much those policy changes have actually changed where Ann Arbor stands in its decarbonization efforts, Stults said: “Local governments have always been impacted by state and federal policy changes. In general, our work is continuing as planned. It’s harder now, but it’s still just as imperative as it was previously and we are committed to doing whatever we can to show what sustainability, just, and holistic climate action looks like within the bounds of our authority. I’d also add that local governments have always led on climate action and this is certainly continuing to be true right now.”
Drew Saunders is a freelance business and environmental journalist who grew up just outside of Ann Arbor. He covers local business developments, embraces his foodie side with reviews restaurants, obsesses over Michigan's environmental state, loves movies, and feels spoiled by the music he gets to review for Ann Arbor!
