News Archive
Professor Waterhouse, Students Join Thrive Indianapolis Effort
07/06/2018
The IU McKinney School of Law Program in Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources (EENR) Law has partnered with Thrive Indianapolis, the city’s plan for community resilience and sustainability, in a year-long effort to chart a course for the future.
In June, Professor of Law Carlton Waterhouse, director of the EENR law program, and students from the Environmental Law Society (left, Waterhouse, ELS members Thad Keefer, Taylor Carpenter, Cassie Heeke and Cayla Irlbeck) recently worked to solicit opinions of Indianapolis residents at the Broad Ripple Art Fair, seeking their input on community needs.
Public input is key to Thrive Indianapolis, a coordinated effort of City of Indianapolis departments with the support of the Marion County Public Health Department, Eskenazi Health and the McKinney Green Initiatives Fund to chart a course for an Indianapolis that is more equitable and healthier.
“The idea is that an equitable and healthy city is better able to anticipate, adapt and flourish in the face of change and, ultimately, will create a more resilient future,” Professor Waterhouse said.
As part of the planning process, Thrive Indianapolis is considering eight areas:
- the economy
- transportation and land use
- public health and safety
- the built environment
- waste and recycling
- energy
- natural resources
- food and urban agriculture
Key components of the Thrive Indianapolis sustainability and resilience action plan include an update to the Marion County Multi-Hazard Plan to analyze future impacts from “shocks” like floods and tornadoes, as well as persistent stressors like poverty and environmental degradation, especially as they pertain to vulnerable populations. A Climate Action Plan to reduce emissions and carbon neutrality by 2050 and a Solid Waste Analysis are also part of the plan.
One of the partners in Thrive Indianapolis is the McKinney Family Foundation, established by the family of Robert H. McKinney, who also made a landmark, multimillion dollar gift to the law school, which took his name in 2011.
“The eight areas that Thrive Indianapolis has targeted all correspond to environmental law courses at IU McKinney,” Professor Waterhouse said. “Working with Thrive Indianapolis is an opportunity for students to get exposure to a wide range of issues for which environmental law is relevant.”
Learn more about Thrive Indianapolis.
