Arizona Forward Presents the Climate & Clean Energy Rising Sustainability Star Award to Jenny Niemann
 

Jenny Niemann was nominated for a new award and recognition from Arizona Forward, which honors individuals advancing a more sustainable future for Arizona. This recognition and award spotlights one outstanding leader under 40 whose work shows measurable impact across Arizona Forward’s three focus areas: Water, Materials & Circular Economy, and Climate & Clean Energy.  Jenny was selected as the recipient of the Climate & Clean Energy Rising Star Award.

Following is Jenny's nomination letter:

Nomination for Jenny Niemann– Climate Leadership Excellence
Jenny exemplifies visionary leadership in climate action through her transformative work advancing Flagstaff’s commitment to carbon neutrality. Over the past seven years as the City of Flagstaff’s Climate Director, she has led the development and implementation of forward-thinking climate policies and programs, embedding sustainability into both municipal operations and community life., most notably, leading the City in adoption of its first Climate Plan with goal to reduce emissions 80%by 2050 and then an update to the Plan initiated by citizens to modify the goal to be Carbon Neutral by 2030. 

Jenny’s leadership is rooted in collaboration and climate literacy. She has empowered staff and residents by providing critical resources and fostering inclusive engagement. Her unique ability to bridge technical expertise with community-centered approaches has made her a trusted leader and a catalyst for meaningful change. Her work has accelerated institutional climate goals and inspired a new generation of environmental stewards.

Her portfolio spans climate policy development, community programming, public engagement, and leadership cultivation. A standout initiative under her direction is the comprehensive review of the City’s development codes and processes to identify and remove barriers to the 10-Year Housing Plan and Carbon Neutrality Plan. This project will result in actionable recommendations with long-term impacts on Flagstaff’s climate goals and serve as a model for other municipalities.

Jenny ensures that community programming is rooted in equity and empowerment. She secured $1 million for Flagstaff’s three resilience hubs, which launched under her management. These hubs are trusted community spaces that provide resources before, during, and after extreme weather events. They offer cooling and heating relief, emergency supplies, support during wildfires, post-fire flooding, and poor air quality events, and ongoing classes and training.

She leads cross-functional teams and fosters cross-sector collaboration, always centering meaningful community participation in program and policy design. This is evident in the City’s weatherization and energy efficiency programs, which are co-designed with community members and building science experts, and guided by the Equity Advisory Committee.

Jenny is also deeply committed to mentoring future climate leaders. She invests in professional development for her team and supports AmeriCorps programming, hosting three to six full-time members annually. She ensures that their service terms are rich with opportunity and fulfilling.

Her key accomplishments include:

• Leading major sustainability and climate initiatives
• Securing funding and cultivating strategic partnerships
• Achieving measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
• Driving policy and organizational change
• Mentoring and inspiring emerging climate leaders

Jenny’s education and career history include earning a Master's of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Colorado Denver, working for Coconino County to update its Comprehensive Plan and zoning code, and working as the Program Planner for the U.S. Green Building Council. In her current role as Climate Director, she leads a highly effective team of six.

Jenny’s dedication to her work, team, and community is unwavering. She is a true leader whose impact will be realized for generations.