September is Planting for Monarchs Month
Did you know that Phoenix plays host to the migrating monarch butterfly each year? We see them arrive in September and wave goodbye around May as they make their way to cooler climates for the summer.
September is the perfect time to start thinking about what native plants you could place on your patio, balcony, or plant in your yard to provide essential habitat resources for this key pollinator species.
Working together, we can create a web of much needed habitat resources throughout Phoenix for this important species.
What are YOU doing to celebrate Planting for Monarchs Month? Follow along and tag us using #PlantingForMonarchs at @PHXenvironment on Twitter!
Learn more about monarch butterflies and planting native milkweed and native nectar plants
Sustainable Cooperative Food Business Training Program
The City of Phoenix and Thrive Consultancy, Inc. are partnering to launch their free 2023 spring Sustainable Cooperative Food Business Training Program to Phoenix residents interested in collaborating to start a sustainable cooperative food business.
During the program, participants will work with their peers to create business plans and develop start-up budgets and marketing pitches for a co-developed sustainable cooperative food business idea. Mentorship and business tools will be available to program attendees to help set them up for success.
Interested applicants can visit the Thrive Consultancy, Inc website to apply by Jan. 15.
Phoenix Food Day and Healthfest
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Join us on October 22nd 9 am to 1 pm for the 2022 Phoenix Food Day and Healthfest at Spaces of Opportunity and Lassen Elementary. The event will include local exhibitors, a farmer's market, hayride farm tours, cooking demos, giveaways, and more!
View the flyer, parking info, and learn more about Phoenix Food Day and Healthfest
September is Planting for Monarchs Month
Did you know that Phoenix plays host to the migrating monarch butterfly each year? We see them arrive in September and wave goodbye around May as they make their way to cooler climates for the summer.
September is the perfect time to start thinking about what native plants you could place on your patio, balcony, or plant in your yard to provide essential habitat resources for this key pollinator species.
Working together, we can create a web of much needed habitat resources throughout Phoenix for this important species.
What are YOU doing to celebrate Planting for Monarchs Month? Follow along and tag us using #PlantingForMonarchs at @PHXenvironment on Twitter!
Learn more about monarch butterflies and planting native milkweed and native nectar plants
Save the Monarchs!
Photograph by William Vann
Did you know that Phoenix plays host to the migrating monarch butterfly each year? We see them arrive in September and wave goodbye around May as they make their way to cooler climates for the summer.
Working together, we can create a web of much needed habitat resources throughout Phoenix for this important species.
Learn more about monarch butterflies and planting native milkweed and native nectar plants
ESG Dashboard now live
Phoenix released its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) dashboard. ESG refers to three measurement areas representing both opportunities and potential risks to a community's sustainability and financial wellbeing.
Investors and other financial-types are looking for this type of information as part of their analysis in identifying risks associated with ESG. This reporting also assists investors in determining resiliently effects of climate change.
Environmental factors include, carbon emissions, water management, waste and energy. Social factors can include community relations and statistics such as education rates. Governance can include information on debt management, audits, and budgets.
View the dashboard
Pollinator Week
Pollinators are an important part of our Sonoran Desert ecosystem and agriculture.
What are YOU doing to celebrate Pollinator Week? Share on social media using #PollinatorWeek and tag us at @PHXenvironment on Twitter!
Learn more about the City’s monarch pledge and how to plant native milkweed and native nectar plants
Phoenix ranks #16 on EPA's 2021 list of cities with the most Energy Star buildings!
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its annual “Top Cities” list, spotlighting the cities with the largest number of Energy Star certified commercial and multifamily buildings. Phoenix ranked 16th with 119 newly Energy Star certified buildings in 2020.
Energy Star certified buildings use an average of 35 percent less energy and are responsible for 35 percent less carbon dioxide emissions than typical buildings.
View all 2021 EPA Energy Star Cities
Saguaro Cactus Census
Desert Botanical Garden has launched a census of saguaro cactus growing in metro Phoenix to better understand the health and adaption of the population. Help us count saguaros in your neighborhood.
This May, the community can help the Garden document urban saguaros (Carnegiea gigantea) in the Valley through iNaturalist. Participants can share their observations on the app under the Saguaro Census project.
This is the first step to generate a database to monitor the saguaro population in the Valley, learn more about their health and research the effects climate change might have on them.
Learn more about this project and how you can get involved
Phoenix declares September “Planting For Monarchs Month”!
Photograph by Kim Pegram, Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego has issued a Proclamation declaring September as “Planting for Monarchs Month”. September is the perfect time to start thinking about what native plants you could place on your patio, balcony, or plant in your yard to provide essential habitat resources for this key pollinator species.
View the Proclamation / Lea la Proclamación
The western population of the monarch butterfly has declined by 99 percent over the last 25 years, primarily due to habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use. Mayor Gallego is calling for all Phoenicians to work together to plant native milkweed and native nectar plants to support the monarch butterfly. Working together, the habitat we each plant - no matter how small - can combine to create big change!
Grown Your Own Food at Home
If you are interested in growing your own food at home, you could have a choice of three garden systems and training support for one year!
The Office of Environmental Programs is excited to announce applications are being accepted for its new FREE Backyard Garden Pilot Program. Residents selected to participate will receive materials, labor, training and maintenance support, as needed for one year, at no cost.
Learn more about the Backyard Garden Program and submit an application online.
Applications are due at 11:59 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15.
Phoenix Food Day and Healthfest
The first Food Day and Healthfest drive-thru event of the year, held at V.H. Lassen Elementary on October 23rd was a HUGE success. Vice Mayor Carlos Garcia, the Roosevelt School District, and Junior League of Phoenix kicked off the event with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Thanks to all our partners and sponsors 2,000 giveaways were distributed to more than 1,000 families, including: food boxes, food bags seed starting kits, and healthy recipes. Click here for cooking and gardening demos.
If you live in the west Phoenix area, you are invited to attend the second Food Day and Healthfest drive-thru event at the Cartwright Community Garden on Saturday, November 6th. Register here.
Urban Wildlife Conservation Day
Mayor Kate Gallego has declared October 9th, 2021 as Urban Wildlife Conservation Day for the City of Phoenix. View the Proclamation.
Join us on Saturday in celebrating our urban wildlife and beautiful Sonoran Desert ecosystem at the First Annual Walk for the Wild, 8am-11am at Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area (2439 S Central Avenue). This outdoor event includes a 3k walk, Audubon native plant sale, a milkweed for monarchs planting, bird education, and much more! View the flyer for more information.
Mayor Gallego Signs the Mayor's
Monarch Pledge
Mayor Gallego celebrated National Native Plant Month and her signing of the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge by visiting the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center.
Following Mayor Gallego’s signing of the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge, the City of Phoenix Office of Environmental Programs plans to coordinate with departmental liaisons to develop a five-year plan of city actions.
Read the PhxNewsroom article to learn more
Climate Action Plan Draft Posted for Public Comments
We want to hear from you! Let us know what you think!
1. View the draft
2. Take survey to provide input
3. Register for a workshop
Four ways to make a difference on in Phoenix this Earth Day:
Plant a tree through donations to phoenix.gov/plantatree. You can choose to donate to trees in streets, parks or vulnerable neighborhoods. A receipt will be issued for tax purposes.
Let your voice be heard by speaking in an upcoming Council budget meeting or writing a comment in support of earth-friendly ideas proposed in the budget. Items proposed in the budget are for Street Transportation to plant 9 cool and walkable corridors each year (1800 trees), a new Office of Heat Response & Mitigation and funding for Climate Action. Learn more at phoenix.gov/budget.
- Pick up one of the 300 “clean-up kits" on Earth Day at Steele Indian School Park on April 22, 2021 from 8:00-12:00 being given away by Keep Phoenix Beautiful. Kits consist of a 5-gallon Lowe's bucket, litter grabbers in both adult & child sizes, masks, gloves, and bags. We are encouraging residents to clean up their own neighborhood or local Park and tag us with photos at #MyBeautifulPHX.
Join Rio Reimagined to clean-up the Salt River: Celebrate Earth Day by volunteering at community clean-up events! Join an in-person clean-up to restore crucial wildlife habitat by removing litter and recyclables from the Salt River. For more info and sign-up for the April 24th in-person clean-up at https://na.eventscloud.com/rioearthday.
