Climate justice commitments uncertain amid city budget concerns – The Ithaca Voice

Report on the Implementation of Ithaca’s Justice50 Policy and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1.0 Policy Overview and Strategic Alignment with SDGs

The City of Ithaca has enacted the Justice50 policy, a flagship initiative of the Ithaca Green New Deal (IGND). This policy represents a significant local commitment to achieving global sustainability targets.

• Core Mandate: The policy mandates that 50% of the city’s annual capital project budget be allocated to projects benefiting communities most impacted by climate change. This directly addresses SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by targeting resources to vulnerable populations and advances SDG 13 (Climate Action) by funding climate resilience and mitigation efforts.
• Participatory Governance: A further 10% of the capital project budget is dedicated to participatory budgeting initiatives. This commitment fosters inclusive decision-making, a key tenet of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and empowers residents to shape their communities, supporting SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
• Previous Implementation: In the prior fiscal year, the city successfully allocated over half of its capital budget to Justice50-aligned projects, establishing a precedent for its commitment to these goals.

2.0 Current Fiscal Challenges and Impact on SDG Implementation

The 2026 budget process has been complicated by unforeseen fiscal constraints, which present challenges to the continued implementation of the Justice50 policy.

• Budget Shortfall: An unexpected $2.1 million budget shortfall has necessitated an “austerity budget,” limiting the city’s capacity to borrow and spend on major infrastructure projects.
• Applicable Funding Pool: The Justice50 goals are met using the city’s general fund portion of the capital project budget, which currently totals $588,350.
• Protecting SDG Commitments: Despite the fiscal pressure, initial revisions to the budget appear to have protected the Justice50 policy from significant cuts, indicating the city’s prioritization of its climate justice and sustainability commitments.
• Proposed Reallocations: Mayor Robert Cantelmo has proposed amendments to reclassify certain expenses, such as police vehicles and a tractor, from the capital budget to the operating budget. This would refine the pool of funds available for projects that more directly align with the core principles of the SDGs.

3.0 Strategies for Fulfilling Justice50 Mandates

The City of Ithaca’s Director of Sustainability has proposed several strategic options to ensure the Justice50 commitments are met within the current budgetary framework. These options demonstrate an adaptive approach to achieving long-term sustainability goals.

1. Review Existing Proposals: The Capital Project Committee could recommend funding for previously proposed projects that align with Justice50 goals. Examples include bicycle infrastructure and winter accessibility improvements, which directly contribute to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by promoting sustainable transport and equitable access.
2. Evaluate Departmental Requests: City officials could analyze departmental “over-target” budget requests to identify capital components that are eligible for Justice50 funding, integrating sustainability across all municipal operations.
3. Consolidate with Participatory Budgeting: Common Council could allocate the entire 50% capital budget portion toward participatory budgeting. This would fulfill both policy mandates simultaneously, significantly advancing SDG 16 by expanding democratic engagement while ensuring the funded projects meet the climate justice criteria of SDG 10 and SDG 13.

4.0 Participatory Budgeting and Broader IGND Initiatives

The city is actively developing its participatory budgeting process and advancing other IGND programs, reinforcing its comprehensive strategy for sustainable development.

• Pilot Project Success: A pilot participatory budgeting project, focused on redeveloping a concrete area near City Hall, resulted in an overwhelming public vote for creating a new green space. This initiative is a tangible outcome for SDG 11.7 (provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces).
• Green Workforce Development: The IGND includes programs such as the “Energy Warriors,” a green workforce development initiative. This program contributes directly to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by creating sustainable employment opportunities and building a skilled workforce for a green economy.
• Future Outlook: Despite current uncertainties, the institutional framework established by the Justice50 policy and the broader IGND ensures that progress toward climate and equity goals remains a central focus. The ongoing process is viewed as a functional and adaptive mechanism for embedding sustainability into the city’s core operations.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses Ithaca’s “Justice50” policy, the Ithaca Green New Deal (IGND), and related budgetary decisions. These initiatives connect to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focused on climate action, inequality, sustainable urban development, economic growth, and institutional strength.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The core of the “Justice50” policy is to “help communities most impacted by climate change,” directly addressing inequalities in the distribution of resources and the disproportionate effects of environmental challenges.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article focuses on a city-level policy for sustainable development, including participatory budgeting for urban planning, developing green public spaces, and creating sustainable infrastructure like bicycle lanes.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The “Justice50” policy is described as the “flagship” policy of the “Ithaca Green New Deal,” which is fundamentally about local climate action. The entire discussion revolves around funding and implementing projects to mitigate climate change.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The policy’s requirement for “participatory budgeting” aims to “increase democratic engagement with the budget process,” which aligns with building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at the local level.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article mentions the “Energy Warriors, a green workforce development program” as an active project under the Ithaca Green New Deal, which contributes to creating sustainable jobs and promoting a green economy.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the policies and projects described, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities):
   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The “Justice50” policy’s focus on communities most impacted by climate change and the inclusion of participatory budgeting are direct efforts to promote inclusion in decision-making and resource allocation.
2. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries. The article details the city’s commitment to allocate 10% of its capital project budget to “participatory budgeting initiatives,” which is a direct implementation of this target.
   • Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities. The pilot project to redevelop a “concrete loading area adjacent to City Hall” into a “green space” based on residents’ votes directly supports this target.
   • Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all. The mention of “bicycle infrastructure” as a potential Justice50-aligned project relates to this target.
3. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The City of Ithaca is doing this at a local level by integrating the “Ithaca Green New Deal” and the “Justice50” policy into its core financial planning and “annual capital project budget.”
4. Under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The article highlights that “the intention behind participatory budgeting is to increase democratic engagement with the budget process” and to create budgets that are “truly driven and influenced by the community.”
5. Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors. The “Energy Warriors, a green workforce development program” is an initiative aimed at building skills for the green economy, which aligns with this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Financial Allocation Percentages: The article explicitly states the policy’s key metrics:
  • Allocation of “half of its annual capital project budget” toward efforts for communities impacted by climate change.
  • Allocation of “10% of its capital project budget toward participatory budgeting initiatives each year.”

  These percentages are direct, measurable indicators of the city’s commitment.

• Budgetary Figures: Specific monetary values are mentioned, which serve as indicators of financial implementation. For example, the general fund capital project budget pool of “$588,350” and the “$50,000” allocated for the pilot participatory budgeting project.
• Implementation of Participatory Processes: The use of a survey and an “OpenGov portal as a community voting platform” is an indicator of the mechanisms being put in place to achieve participatory decision-making. The outcome, where voters “overwhelmingly suggested it be turned into green space,” is a qualitative indicator of the process’s influence.
• Specific Projects as Indicators: The existence and implementation of specific projects serve as tangible indicators of progress. The article mentions:
  • The “Energy Warriors, a green workforce development program.”
  • Proposed projects like “bicycle infrastructure and winter accessibility improvements.”
  • The pilot project to convert a concrete area into a “green space.”
• Number and Type of Programs: The existence of the “Ithaca Green New Deal (IGND)” and its “flagship policy, Justice50” are high-level indicators of integrated climate policy at the municipal level.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ithacavoice.org