The City of Charlottesville has committed to developing a Climate Action Plan (CAP) aimed to achieve its greenhouse gas reduction goals of 45% by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. The structure for the CAP will borrow from a strategic plan framework in order to prioritize actions to meet the 2030 goal and position Charlottesville to achieve its 2050 goal. 

Community engagement is a critical part of the CAP process, although delays have now put it on a fast-tracked timeline to restart engagement and complete the plan development in 2022. The City had adopted a multi-layer engagement approach, which is being adjusted to the new timeline and City Council direction,  involving a climate action liaison committee, core topic teams, open community discussion and input opportunities, and small group stakeholder engagement sessions. This structure aims to leverage technical expertise, local knowledge, existing partnerships, and support within the community.  

The climate action plan development will be informed by concurrent layers of community engagement:

• Virtual meetings and online questionnaires - open to the public
• Climate Action Liaison Committee - City management and regional planning partners
• Core Topic Teams - City staff, institutional partners, and members of the public that serve on City boards/committees/commissions
• Equity workshop and workgroup
• Small group stakeholder discussions on specific areas of expertise, experience, or perspective
  • Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Properties
  • Environmental and Climate 
  • Businesses
  • Funding and Financing

Public Events

City Council Work Session - April 18, 2022 (4:00PM)

Staff presented an update on the Climate Action Plan development progress and preliminary plan content. The presentation and Council discussion can be viewed online at the City's charlottesville.gov/streaming webpage. 

Equity in Climate Action - February 8, 2021 

The City of Charlottesville has committed to including Equity as part of its Climate Action Plan and has partnered with the University of Virginia’s Institute for Engagement & Negotiation (IEN) to conduct this important conversation on equity for the City’s Climate Action Plan. This conversation around equity will be an integral part of the overarching discussions for all the community engagement efforts. In addition, we hope a separate continuous group will form to assist the City through the longer-term planning process.

We would like to have a diversity of community voices contribute to the conversation about how to ensure that the City’s Climate Action Plan represents our goals for climate equity. In addition to direct invitations that have been sent out, community members are invited to participate in this first important Equity in Climate Action conversation for the City of Charlottesville. 

Community Workshop (Virtual & Recorded) - December 14 and 15, 2020

Watch the Workshop Recording (the December 14th session)
Provide feedback and responses via the Post-Workshop Input Form

Description
As the first workshop in support of the City developing a Climate Action Plan, this workshop includes an introduction to Charlottesville's greenhouse gas (GHG) emission sources, examples of climate action strategies from other communities, some high-level example scenarios for meeting Charlottesville's GHG emission reduction targets, as well  as an overview of the Climate Action Plan development process.  

Workshop Recording & Schedule
To help increase community access, the workshop was offered twice with a recording and links to feedback materials posted here after the event.  

The workshop was divided into four 30-minute sections, each including opportunity for questions and answers.  Community members can "tune in" live or on the recording to specific segments: 

• 00:00 - 00:30   Introduction and Overview of the Plan Development Process, Charlottesville's Emissions, and Example Climate Action Strategies
• 00:30 - 01:00   Stationary Sources of Emissions (Buildings' Energy Use - Residential, Commercial)
• 01:00 - 01:30   Renewable Energy 
• 01:30 - 02:00   Transportation

Adaptation Planning & the Climate Vulnerability Assessment

The first steps in developing a climate adaptation plan are to identify the projected climate hazards that Charlottesville will experience and to identify vulnerabilities in the community to the top climate hazards. Combined, these steps will produce a Climate Vulnerability Assessment.  The City of Charlottesville is supported by ICELI - Local Governments for Sustainability USA in this effort. 

The Climate Vulnerability Assessment will assess potential impacts from climate change and identify priorities for adaptation. To understand which sectors, assets, and populations might be particularly vulnerable to those changes, we are relying on the knowledge and experience of government staff and the greater community. We highly encourage you to be a part of this conversation. See below for opportunities to get involved!

Community Involvement Opportunities

Future Community Engagement Opportunities

• April 20 - May 20, 2022:  Online Community Survey
• June 2022:   Community & Staff Workshops to Identify Specific Priorities for Adaptation
• Summer 2022:  Vulnerability Assessment Results Memo - Available for Public Comment
• Late Summer 2022:  Finalize and Publish Vulnerability Assessment Report
• Summer/Fall 2022:  Climate Adaptation Planning Process Scoping

Materials Library

Climate Hazards for Charlottesville, VA

We have reviewed the best available climate models, which tell us how the frequency, duration, and intensity of climate-related hazards might change over time in Charlottesville. 

• Climate Hazards and Vulnerability Assessment Process Overview - Video Recording (~30 min.)
• Climate Hazards for Charlottesville, VA - Summary Memo (PDF)

Identifying Community Vulnerabilities

Charlottesville is likely to see significant change in seasonal patterns, as well as an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (precipitation, flooding, and extreme heat). What sectors, assets, and populations in Charlottesville do you think are most vulnerable to these changes and hazards? 

• Recorded Community Forum Presentation (~20 min.)
• Online Form (now closed) - After watching the Forum recording, provide your responses to the Forum Discussion Questions 
• Summary Report from the Community and Staff Forums and online form

Climate Action Together: A Roundtable Discussion About Local Implications of Climate Change on Our Community's Health, Safety, and Ecology

January 20, 5PM-7PM
Video Recording Link - YouTube

Climate change is upon us in the form of increasingly extreme weather events, changing seasons, and the associated stress on community systems. Join the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the University of Virginia for an inside look into the thinking and decision-making of leaders in key systems (ecology, social services, public health, public safety) in our community. This event is for everyone who wants to know more about how climate change will affect our community.  Full event description.

Questions? 

Contact us using the Climate Vulnerability Assessment Contact Form.

Stay Updated! 

Sign up via Notify Me to receive notices when updates on Climate Action and Climate Action Planning events are available. Select Climate Action in the list under "News Flash".