A2Zero Carbon Neutrality Plan

WEMU's David Fair is joined by Marquee Arts cinema programming director, Nick Alderink, to talk all things movies! This time around, they take a moment to remember Diane Keaton, who passed away on October 11th. They also preview the newest film offerings arriving at your favorite movie houses.

The sun is helping some local residents identify the quality of the air. The City of Ann Arbor has launched a network of ten solar-powered air quality monitors placed across the city. Residents can now track local conditions through a publicly available online map and subscribe to receive station-specific alerts when air quality reaches "Unhealthy” levels. How does it work and what does it mean for the future? Find out in a conversation between WEMU's David Fair and Sean Reynolds, senior analyst for the city’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations.

2025 marks the 25th year of the Green Fair in Ann Arbor. The event was initially called "The Mayor's Green Fair." Now, it is called the A2Zero Green Fair to reflect the city's initiative aimed at reaching carbon neutrality by the year 2030. WEMU's David Fair and Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor discuss the impact of a quarter-century of Green Fairs and the path forward to a healthier and more sustainable community.

We’ve had plenty of hot days this summer, but what happens to the environment when concrete and asphalt surface temperatures heat well into the 100’s? Keenan Gibbons and his team at SmithGroup wanted to find out and used drones to study heat patterns along Huron Street in Ann Arbor. The research on heat islands has led to some determinations about how to mitigate impact and help move the city towards its carbon neutrality goals. Gibbons joined WEMU's David Fair to explain the research and its findings.

Rental properties in Ann Arbor will soon have to meet new energy efficiency standards. Ann Arbor City Council approved the Green Rental Housing Ordinance on July 16th. Some landlords and housing advocates raised concerns that it will drive rental prices even higher. Missy Stults is director of the city’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations. She says that’s not the case and explains why in her conversation with WEMU's David Fair.

Ann Arbor City Council has made a significant step towards its A2Zero initiative as the Green Rental Housing Ordinance and the formation of the Sustainability Commission have been given the green light. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.

Ann Arbor has launched a new program to help people reduce the amount of food they waste at home. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.

The City of Ann Arbor is looking to merge its Energy and Environmental Commissions into one Sustainability Commission. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.

City densification, affordable housing, commercial development, sustainable energy — Ann Arbor is contending with a number of important issues that are keeping city officials very busy. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor talked with Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor about the city’s goals moving forward.

In June of 2020, the City of Ann Arbor adopted its A2Zero Plan. Its goal was to move the city to full carbon neutrality by the year 2030. Under the best of circumstances, it presented a difficult task. With the new administration enacting funding cuts and some new local challenges, it may be nearly impossible to hit the target date. WEMU's David Fair talked with Ann Arbor Energy Commission member John Mirsky about what comes next.