Legislation Details

File #: [26-0170]    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Discussion Item Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 5/7/2026 In control: Town Council
On agenda: 5/20/2026 Final action:
Title: Climate Action Plan Update.
Attachments: 1. Draft Staff Presentation
Date Ver.Action ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsVideo
No records to display.

AGENDA ITEM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

ITEM TITLE

title

Climate Action Plan Update.

presenter

RESPONSIBLE STAFF, TITLE, DEPARTMENT

Mary Jane Nirdlinger, Deputy Town Manager

John Richardson, Community Sustainability Manager

Brennan Bouma, Sustainability Program Analyst

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that Council receive the attached presentation and provide guidance about their priorities for the five-year update of the Town’s Climate Action and Response Plan <https://online.flippingbook.com/view/857144275/>.

body

LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT

The Council adopted the Town’s first Climate Action and Response Plan (“plan”) in April of 2021. The plan reflected Council’s policy guidance on goals, strategies and actions for addressing climate change in Chapel Hill. Projects associated with plan implementation are led by staff across the organization and are broken out into four main action categories: (1) buildings & energy, (2) transportation & land use, (3) water, wastewater & natural resources, and (4) resiliency. Staff provide regular updates on the Town’s activities and progress. 

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

The Council-adopted plan calls for an update every five years. The update is not a rewrite of the existing plan. Instead, we will evaluate our progress to date, assess current emissions levels relative to goals, and determine what (if any) priorities must be shifted to help us reach our goals. See the staff presentation for details.  

FINANCIAL IMPACT

Staff have already completed the updated emissions inventory and progress evaluation using staff resources, with support from UNC. We plan to use staff time to complete public outreach and development of the update.

COMPLETE COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Key Complete Community framework connections include active transportation options, everywhere to everywhere greenways, mature tree canopy, and mitigation of climate risks. These connections are noted in the presentation.

ATTACHMENTS

Draft Staff Presentation