Environmental Officer City of Austin AUSTIN, Texas, United States
All too often urban ecological work perpetuates the myth that human and natural systems are at odds with one another. This binary thinking results in local policy, program, and planning efforts that make it difficult for opportunities to arise where multifunctional goals can be seen as complementary rather than in competition. Ecofeminism, Queer Ecology, Indigenous Ecology, and other bodies of knowledge reframe this dominant narrative - urging us to think in non-binary, decolonized, and collaborative ways about how to do more impactful work across climate, environment, health, equity, and other goals that contribute to overall urban resilience. Austin, one of the most rapidly developing urban areas in the country, is a perfect storm of opportunity to pilot this fundamental shift in thinking about urban ecological work. This session will focus on the systemic reframing toward non-binary thinking and will outline both the theory behind it, and the practical application of it through City of Austin climate and environmental initiatives. From one of the Country’s most racial equity-driven climate action plans to new initiatives to embed ecosystem service goals into even the densest urban developments, the City of Austin serves as an innovative test case for the way all cities should be moving urban ecological work forward for a more resilient future.
