Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced today that Shelby Busó has been named Chief Sustainability Officer. In this role, she will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of resilience and sustainability efforts for the City of Atlanta.
“Rooted in the vision of One Atlanta, our sustainability work is focused on delivering core equity outcomes for all Atlantans,” said Mayor Bottoms. “For us, this work begins with a focus on keeping cash in people’s pockets and helping residents overcome the challenges they face today, not just reducing carbon emissions.”
On average, Atlantans spend 48% of their income on housing, utilities, and transportation. For the lowest income residents, this percentage is even higher. The Mayor’s Office of One Atlanta works to make Atlanta better prepared to withstand physical, social, and economic challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century. Housed in the Office of One Atlanta, the Chief Sustainability Officer will build on Atlanta’s national reputation as a sustainability leader and focus on three core issues:
- Reducing energy costs for the residents most burdened by utility payments through energy efficiency, with a focus on our lowest income residents.
- Implementing the City's Clean Energy Plan, which will accelerate our transition to lower-cost energy sources.
- Ensuring affordable, fresh food access to an additional 50,000 residents by 2022, reducing the number of Atlantans residing in USDA-defined food deserts by 10%.
A seasoned strategist and environmentalist, Shelby Busó most recently served as the Director of Community Advancement and Market Transformation for the U.S. Green Building Council.
Busó’s appointment is effective immediately.
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