Region adopts net zero climate action plan

The Kansas City Regional Climate Action Plan was adopted today by the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Board of Directors, launching an effort to transform the metropolitan area into a more resilient, equitable and healthy region.

The climate action plan proposes a flexible, voluntary framework to help mitigate climate change by achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The plan also details how the region can adapt to and bounce forward from the many risks climate change poses.

“The Kansas City Regional Climate Action Plan is positive, doable and based on local precedent,” said Johnson County commissioner Janee’ Hanzlick, a member of the Climate Action KC executive board. “There is growing community energy and enthusiasm for this work. The plan will allow us to make quick progress and ensure our communities are stronger, more vital and healthier.”

To reach the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the region must reduce emissions by a total of 37 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MT CO2e), or 1.2 million MT CO2e per year. The plan outlines climate mitigation strategies, including investing in renewable energy and increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, to achieve this goal. The climate action plan also focuses on climate adaptation strategies, greenhouse gases by sector, and climate risks and vulnerabilities.
 
“We are ready to get started and make a difference,” said Damien Boley, mayor of Smithville, Missouri, and member of the Climate Action KC executive board. “Everyone has a role to play in climate adaptation and resilience. The plan lays out clear action steps that each one of us can consider. Together, we can build on the region’s track record of success and help transform the metropolitan area into a more resilient, equitable and healthy region.”

The Kansas City Regional Climate Action Plan was developed in 2020 by a coalition led by Climate Action KC and MARC, together with hundreds of interested community members, stakeholders and decision-makers. The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, a worldwide collaboration among 10,000 municipalities, helped guide the plan’s development.