Climate Action Planning

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 due to Covid-19 have put it on a fast-tracked timeline. The City has adopted a multi-layer engagement approach involving a climate action liaison committee, core topic teams, open community discussion and input opportunities, and small group stakeholder engagement sessions. This structure is intended 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

Developing a Climate Action Plan

Following the adoption of a greenhouse gas reduction target on July 1, 2019, the City of Charlottesville will develop a climate action plan for greenhouse gas reductions followed by a climate hazard risk assessment and climate resiliency/adaptation planning process. These efforts support the City's Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy commitment:

City Council Direction

City Council passed resolutions on May 6, 2019 (PDF) and July 1, 2019 (PDF) directing that the Climate Action Plan be developed pursuant to the adopted reduction goal and include the following aspects:

• Address Equity Specifically in Goals and the Climate Action Plan
• Addresses Funding and Financing Options to Enable and Support Private Sector Action
• Identify Measurement Frequency and Accountability Mechanisms
• Identify of Sub-Goals by Sector and by Strategy in the Climate Action Plan
• Front Load Reductions - pursue steeper reductions in the near term

Additional Strategies

Additionally, the Climate Action Plan will include, but not be limited to, strategies that address:

1. Further enabling private financial sector investment in energy performance upgrades for commercial properties in the City of Charlottesville through adoption of a commercial property assessed clean energy (C-PACE) financing program; and
2. Effective funding programs and models for increased residential energy performance, including programs that are compatible with affordable housing and owner or renter-occupied housing; and
3. The feasibility of integrating zero emission vehicles into the municipal fleet and supporting increased community adoption of zero emission vehicles; and
4. Working in conjunction with regional partners to implement seamless programs and services to increase ease of participation for Charlottesville organizations and residents.

Timeline

The City of Charlottesville committed to developing a Climate Action Plan as part of its Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy commitment in 2017. Community engagement to develop a Climate Action Plan was planned to begin in the Spring of 2020. Formal engagement activities were delayed due to the coronavirus response. Planning for an adjusted community engagement process began in August/September with the process framework being shared with the public in October, including a process briefing at the October 19, 2020 City Council Meeting. Formation of the Core Topic Teams and the Climate Action Plan Liaison Committee, as well as preparation for facilitated stakeholder discussions and other engagement activities were underway in November and continue to be developed. The City is looking to complete a substantial portion of community engagement by Spring 2021.