Ingham County

Ingham County, covering 576 square miles and home to approximately 284,000 residents, is located in the south-central region of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. It is the eighth largest county in Michigan by population and the third largest in terms of government operations. The county is managed by a fifteen-member Board of Commissioners and offers a wide range of services including human services, law enforcement, justice administration, recreation, education, elections, and record keeping.

Ingham County has a long history of incorporating sustainable practices into its operations, but more recently, in 2020, the county passed a resolution declaring a climate emergency, aimed at increasing awareness and urgency regarding sustainable practices. This resolution highlighted Ingham County’s leadership role in the region, fostering partnerships to leverage regional expertise and resources, and committing to the pursuit of resources to support these initiatives. To further these more recent efforts, Ingham County reestablished the Environmental Affairs Commission, declared a commitment to climate justice, and set a goal for achieving net-zero county operations by 2040. The County also completed a comprehensive energy audit and initiated the development of a Sustainability Action Plan for both government operations and the community at large. These initiatives emphasize the importance of full community participation, inclusion, and support for climate and sustainability efforts.