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 CAP presents a strategic framework to prioritize actions to meet the 2030 goal and position Charlottesville to achieve its 2050 goal.
Preliminary content for the CAP was presented to City Council on April 18, 2022, available on the City’s Climate Planning webpage, used as core content for a community survey, and was integrated in the Community Town Hall Workshop. Since then, the full plan has been developed in conjunction with internal stakeholders and with input from the public. The CAP contains background information and context as well as sets of strategies and actionable items pertaining to both community and City-specific operations and activities.
The CAP, which will be posted to the City’s website on September 26, will be the subject of a City Council work session on October 3. Council work sessions begin at 4:00 and more information can be accessed via the City’s online portal.
The City’s is also pleased to welcome a new staff member who will support the implementation of the CAP. Emily Irvine joins the Public Works – Environmental Sustainability Division as Climate Program Specialist, a new position within the Climate Protection Program. Her professional background is in building systems commissioning and she will complete a Master of Natural Resources with focus on Sustainability Leadership this fall. For the past several years, she has led the Charlottesville Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, which advocates for effective federal-level climate policy. Emily grew up in Albemarle County and has lived in the City for a decade. Emily says, “I am passionate about helping to build a livable future and excited for the opportunity to serve our community in this important way”.