Kane County Greenlights Inaugural Climate Action Plan
Over the course of 19 months, more one thousand community members shared their input on what actions Kane County can voluntarily take to protect the environment and reduce the impacts of climate change. The result is the creation of a countywide Climate Action Implementation Plan. The plan is a detailed guide for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and related climate impacts within the local community.
The plan was approved by the Kane County Board on June 11, 2024, by a vote of 13-9.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are known as greenhouse gases. The largest source of GHG emissions in the U.S. comes from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat and transportation.
The goal set out in Kane County's proposed plan aims to reduce community-wide GHG emissions by 25% (below 2019 levels of 7,012,103 metric tons) by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Kane County is proposing to do this by addressing nine sectors, through 44 strategies and a menu of 255 actions associated with community resilience and GHG emissions reduction. They include:
- Transportation and Land Use – Decreasing community wide vehicles miles traveled, increase use of public transit and electric vehicle and develop guidelines to favor walkable neighborhoods and business districts.
- Waste Management – Decreasing total municipal solid waste through landfill waste diversion and increasing recycling opportunities.
- Local Food and Agriculture – Reducing food waste, increasing the share of farms using low-emission practices, and increasing local food production and access.
- Health and Safety – Educating on the health and safety risks of climate change and assisting climate-vulnerable populations through preparation and mitigation.
- Buildings and Energy – Becoming more strategic in advancing energy efficiency programs to reduce the use of electricity.
- Water and Wastewater – Promoting water conservation and increasing the protection of natural water sources.
- Greenspace and Trees – Increasing tree cover, pollinators, and greenspace, and reducing invasive species.
- Climate Economy – Assessing the economic value of each climate action goal, providing support to local businesses for operational resilience, and preparing for climate change migration.
- Implementation and Actions – Creating guidance and direction for participation in the Climate Action Implementation Plan, collaborating through joint action and providing cross-jurisdictional support, and creating a speaker's bureau of volunteers to communicate the goals of the plan.
The Climate Action Implementation Plan is a voluntary plan that does not require any action and does not mandate changes that would impact local businesses or residents. The plan is a blueprint for interested communities within Kane County to use as a guide to develop their own initiatives and goals to reduce carbon emissions.
To learn more about Kane County's Climate Action Implementation by clicking here.
To receive updates on Kane County sustainability efforts, go to https://form.jotform.com/241144018132139
