National Climate Action Strategy unveiled at ALA Annual Conference

CHICAGO — Library workers recognize that climate change is one of the biggest challenges to their communities, and a partnership between the American Library Association and the Sustainable Libraries Initiative addresses that challenge.

A working group — comprising talented leaders from many sectors throughout the association working on sustainability — has created resources for library workers, including the National Climate Action Plan for Libraries and an implementation plan for libraries.

“One of my presidential initiatives has explored how libraries can continue to tackle climate change,” said ALA President Emily Drabinski. “After a decade of advocacy within ALA, we partnered with the Sustainable Libraries Initiative to create a National Climate Action Plan for Libraries. I want to give a huge shout-out to the working group that created both the strategy and the implementation plan to help library workers do all they can in the face of this profound threat to our planet.”

Sustainability was reconfirmed as an ALA core value in January 2024, and this group is developing resources to accelerate the work.

-The goal is to work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase work on climate adaptation to ensure libraries are contributing to community resilience, and harness the power of education for climate justice.

-The strategy implementation guide will help individuals and institutions across the profession to adopt the strategy.

-Library workers are encouraged to make time to use the implementation guide to chart a new course for your libraries and their communities.

For more information visit: https://www.sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/national-climate-action-strategy-libraries

About the American Library Association
The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.