Climate Planning

Charlottesville's Climate Action Plan - Now Available:

About the Plan

The Plan provides a framework for how the Charlottesville community can work together to achieve our emissions reduction goals of 45% reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. It explains where emissions in the City come from and presents strategies and actions that can be taken to reduce them. 

The plan is intended to be applicable to the whole community, not just municipal government operations. As we move into Plan implementation, we encourage community members to stay in touch via our Climate Action News Flashes.

Adopting the Climate Action Plan as part of the Comprehensive Plan

On October 3, 2022 the City's Climate Program staff presented the Charlottesville Climate Action Plan at a City Council work session (view the agenda memo and the work session video recording). 

As part of moving the Climate Action Plan forward, City staff met with City boards and commissions, discussed next steps with various City departments and divisions, and continued to seek feedback and involvement from the community. These discussions informed some adjustments to the Plan document, which have been incorporated in the November 2022 version. 

On Dec. 13, 2022, at a joint meeting of the Charlottesville Planning Commission and City Council, the Planning Commission voted to recommend the Charlottesville Climate Action Plan as an amendment to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. This is an important step as the Climate Action Plan goes next to City Council to be voted on for adoption at a later date.  View the Planning Commission meeting recording

On January 17, 2023, City Council formally adopted the Climate Action Plan as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan (view the agenda memo and work session video recording).

Stay Updated!


Sign up via Notify Me to receive Climate Action News Flash notices when updates on Climate Action and Climate Program events are available. Select Climate Action in the list under "News Flash". Also, you can contact staff directly via our contact form.

Logo for Charlottesville Acting on Climate Together


  1. Updated Inventory News Flash

    Charlottesville Releases Updated GHG Inventories

    Charlottesville releases 2020 and 2021 Greenhouse Gas Inventory numbers Read on...
  2. Join Us & Let&#39s Talk Climate

    Acting on Climate Together – March 15, 2023

    Join us on March 15th for Acting on Climate Together! Read on...
  3. Moving Forward on Climate

    Charlottesville Climate Action Plan has officially been adopted!

    On Tuesday, January 17, City Council officially adopted the Climate Action Plan as an amendment to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Read on...
  4. Moving Forward on Climate

    Planning Commission votes to advance the Climate Action Plan

    Last night, on Dec. 13, 2022, at a joint meeting of the Charlottesville Planning Commission and City Council, the Planning Commission voted to recommend the Charlottesville Climate Action Plan as an amendment to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Read on...
  5. Logo for Charlottesville Acting on Climate Together

    Adopting Charlottesville's Climate Action Plan

    Charlottesville's Climate Action Plan is moving forward for proposed adoption as an amendment to the City's Comprehensive Plan. This adoption process begins with a public hearing on December 13, 2022 with the Planning Commission and City Council. Read on...
  6. Logo for Charlottesville Acting on Climate Together

    Next Steps for Charlottesville's Climate Action Plan

    Last week, Charlottesville's Climate Action Plan was presented at a City Council work session. As part of moving the Climate Action Plan forward, the City continues to seek community feedback and involvement. Input is requested by Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022 Learn more ...
  7. Logo for Charlottesville Acting on Climate Together

    Charlottesville's Climate Action Plan Available Online

    Charlottesville’s Climate Action Plan is now available online and will be presented to City Council at the Monday, October 3, 2022 work session! Read on...
  8. Climate on Council Agenda

    Climate Action Plan to be Presented to City Council - 10/03/2022

    On October 3, 2022, the Climate Action Plan will be presented to City Council at their afternoon work session. Additionally, the City's Climate Protection Program has add a new staff member! Read on...
  9. Text announcing an &#34Acting on Climate Together&#34 Community Workshop

    Upcoming Climate Action Listening Sessions & Town Hall Community Workshop

    This August: Listening Sessions to provide an intentional space for voices in our community who are not traditionally involved in climate conversations, and, a Town Hall Community Workshop for all community members to provide input on GHG reductions. Read on...
  10. Logo for Charlottesville Acting on Climate Together

    New Climate Planning Materials Available

    New materials have been posted to the City's website for the Climate Action Plan and the Climate Vulnerability Assessment! Read on...
  11. Text announcing an &#34Acting on Climate Together&#34 Community Workshop

    Community Workshop: Help Charlottesville become Climate Resilient!

    Please join the conversation on Thursday, June 9, 5 PM - 7 PM for a virtual Community Workshop to discuss the City of Charlottesville's Climate Vulnerability Assessment. Register in advance of the workshop, and the Zoom link will be sent to your email. Read on...
  12. Solarize Charlottesville Logo

    Sign Up & Learn More about Solarize Charlottesville!

    The City of Charlottesville is working with the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) to bring another round of Solarize Charlottesville! Learn more & register for the June 7 virtual info session at SolarizeCville.org. Campaign ends June 30! Read on...
  13. Text announcing an &#34Acting on Climate Together&#34 Community Workshop

    Save the Date: June 9, 5PM - 7PM Community Workshop on Climate Vulnerabilities

    Please plan to join us, fellow community members, and community organizations on Thursday, June 9, 5PM - 7PM for a final, virtual, Community Workshop to inform Charlottesville's Climate Vulnerability Assessment! Read on...
  14. Event Name:  Fleet of the Future, Right-Sized and Electrified, Monday, May 23, 3-5PM

    Join Us at "The Fleet of the Future: Right Sized and Electrified"

    We are excited to partner with Albemarle County, Virginia Clean Cities, and the University of Virginia for a community showcase of electric equipment. Read more for event details and activity schedule! Read on...
  15. Climate Surveys

    Reminder - Climate Surveys Still Open, through May 20th!

    There's still time to inform the City's two climate planning processes that are underway! Two climate plans - Two surveys - Open through May 20th! Read on...
  16. Climate on Council Agenda

    Climate Action at City Council Work Session on Monday, April 18

    The City's Climate Protection Program will be presenting an update and preliminary content for the City's Climate Action Plan at the City Council Work Session on Monday, April 18, 4:00 pm. Read on...
  17. 510x510 (5)

    Surveys Open for Climate Action Planning

    Surveys to inform climate action planning - both greenhouse gas reductions and climate vulnerability - are open for community input until Friday, May 20, 2022. Read on...
  18. Charlottesville GHG Inventory Pie Chart Graphic

    GHG Emissions Data Updated on the City Website

    Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) Inventories measure and track community-wide GHGs associated with activities within the City of Charlottesville's community. The City's website has been updated to make this data more accessible to the community. Read on...
  19. Logo for Charlottesville Acting on Climate Together

    Summary Report from Community/Staff Forums Available - Climate Vulnerability Assessment Process

    As part of the Climate Vulnerability Assessment Process, community members and staff considered vulnerabilities in Charlottesville's community systems. A summary report of this input is now available online. Read on...
  20. Map of 2021 Data Collection Bike & Driving Routes

    Urban Heat Island Mapping Data - Now Available!

    Data and final report from the 2021 Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign is now available! Read on...
  21. Event Promotion Image for Climate Action Together Event on 2022-01-20

    Join us on Jan. 20 for a Climate Action Together Roundtable Discussion

    Climate change, and its associated stress on our community, is upon us. Join the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the University of Virginia on January 20 for a roundtable discussion with local leaders in key affected community systems. Read on...
  22. Text announcing an &#34Acting on Climate Together&#34 Community Workshop

    Climate Vulnerability Assessment Process Kicking Off

    The City is beginning the process to develop a Climate Vulnerability Assessment, a part of Adaptation Planning. Having prepared information on the climate hazards projected for Charlottesville, community input is needed to identify vulnerabilities. Read on...
  23. Image of Text &#34Call for Volunteers&#34

    Call for Volunteers: Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign

    Calling for Community Volunteers - Help Charlottesville collect data on urban heat as part of the 2021 NIHHIS-CAPA Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign! This project will support Charlottesville's climate action efforts around extreme heat vulnerabilities. Read on...
  24. Text image indicating newly adopted GHG Goals (45% by 2030 and Carbon Neutral by 2050)

    Charlottesville Adopted New GHG Reduction Goals

    On July 1, 2019, City of Charlottesville's City Council adopted new greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals informed by community input and the challenge posed by climate change, including the recent IPCC report. The new goals aim to achieve a 45% reduction Read on...
  25. Text image requesting community input on draft GHG Goals and Climate Action Plan direction

    Draft GHG Goals Open for Public Comment

    At City Council's May 6, 2019 meeting, a compilation of community comments and input were presented along with draft greenhouse gas reduction goals. Community input was used to inform support for this level of commitment and to begin informing direction Read on...
  26. Text image announcing that the City joined the Global Covenant of Mayors Commitment

    Charlottesville Recommits to Climate Action

    City Council passed a resolution on June 19, 2017 as its "Response to the Announced US Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement". The resolution indicates continued commitment on behalf of Charlottesville to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and Read on...
View All News

Background

Developing a Climate Action Plan and a Climate Adaptation Plan

Developing a climate action plan for greenhouse gas reductions and a climate resiliency/adaptation plan are part of the City's Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy commitment:

Chart showing Cville's current stages in the Global Covenant of Mayors Commitment

Planning Timelines

A Climate Action Plan for Greenhouse Gas Reductions:  Community engagement to develop a Climate Action Plan was planned to begin in the Spring of 2020. Engagement activities were delayed due to the coronavirus response. Some engagement activities began in 2020-21 and resumed in early Spring 2022. Charlottesville's Climate Action Plan was presented to City Council at their Oct. 3, 2022 work session and after a period of public comment was formally adopted as an amendment to the City's 2021 Comprehensive Plan on January 17, 2023.

A Climate Adaptation Plan to prepare for the effects of a changing climate:  The City began the first two steps of the Climate Adaptation Plan process in Fall 2021 - Fall 2022. Charlottesville's top climate hazards have been identified and the Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment process is in process . The adaptation plan development will build upon these first two steps and will begin in 2023. 

Materials and Information about the Planning Processes

More detailed information about each of the planning processes - including community engagement opportunities, informational resources, summary memos, and links to event and presentation recordings- are in the tabs below. These tabs will be updated as the two processes move forward. 

  1. Climate Action Plan (GHG Emissions Reductions)
  2. Climate Vulnerability assessment & Adaptation plan

Charlottesville's Climate Action Plan

Using a multi-layered approach to gather input from community members, organizations, stakeholders, and City staff, development of the Climate Action Plan began in Fall 2020/Winter 2021 and resumed in Spring 2022. The plan builds upon past work of the City’s Climate Program and provides a strategic framework to guide City and community actions to achieve our greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals of 45% by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.  

The Plan provides contextual and background information about GHG emissions in Charlottesville and identifies emissions reduction strategies for both community activities and municipal operations. More specifics are addressed within each area, including buildings and energy, transportation, and waste, among others. Each section presents strategies to guide the focus of actions as well as key actions to be taken within the next 3 to 5 years to keep Charlottesville on the path to our emissions reduction goals.

View Charlottesville's Climate Action Plan (PDF)


Community Engagement

Community engagement is a critical part of the CAP process, although delays have now put it on a fast-tracked timeline to restart engagement and complete the plan development in 2022. The City had 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 aimed to leverage technical expertise, local knowledge, existing partnerships, and support within the community and is being adjusted to reflect the new timeline and City Council direction.  

Engagement Opportunities

  • City Council Meeting - Vote to Adopt the Climate Action Plan as an Amendment to the Comprehensive Plan

The Climate Action Plan adopted as an amendment to the City's 2021 Comprehensive Plan on January 17, 2023. The first reading occurred on January 3, 2023. 

  • Public Hearing - December 13, 2022

The process of adopting Charlottesville's Climate Action Plan as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan began with a public hearing at a joint meeting of the Charlottesville City Council and Planning Commission (Dec. 13, 2022).

  • October to November 2022

The Climate Action Plan was first presented to City Council on October 3, 2022. Following Council's direction to bring the plan forward as a proposed amendment to the City's Comprehensive Plan, the Climate Protection Program invited community members and organizations to share feedback on the CAP document and ideas for how they want to be a part of moving climate action forward in Charlottesville, with input requested by Nov. 9, 2022.   Comments were received via a contact form on the City's website, through direct emails, verbal comments from members of City boards and commissions, and in-person at one of the four drop-in sessions hosted by City staff (two virtual on Zoom and two in-person at City Space).

  • August 2022 Events

    • Listening Sessions - August 4 and August 10, 2022
      Two Listening Sessions in August provide an intentional space for voices in our community who are not traditionally involved in climate conversations. We invite all individuals to attend, as well as representatives from organizations whose work prioritizes marginalized communities, specifically those most impacted by climate change. The goal of these Listening Sessions is to gain input from underrepresented groups on the potential impacts of greenhouse gas (GHG) reducing actions.

    • Community Town Hall/Workshop - August 17, 2022
      During this  virtual Community GHG Reduction Town Hall Workshop, the City of Charlottesville encourages all community members to provide input on developing our potential GHG reduction priorities.

  • Community Survey - Open April 20 to May 20, 2022

The Climate Action Survey will inform strategies and actions for the City's Climate Action Plan, aimed at achieving Charlottesville's greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals of a 45% reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.  

  • City Council Work Session - April 18, 2022 (4:00PM)

Staff presented an update on the Climate Action Plan development progress and preliminary plan content. The presentation and Council discussion can be viewed online at the City's charlottesville.gov/streaming webpage. 

  • Climate Liaison Committee Meetings - 1st meeting June 2021 & Ongoing

The Climate Liaison Committee is comprised of City management and regional government/institutional planning partners. Responding to the City Council Resolution for regional coordination as part of the Climate Action Plan, this committee offers ongoing regional perspective and awareness of climate activities and discussions as the Climate Action Plan is underdevelopment. It helps to both inform the Climate Action Plan and keep regional partners aware of how the City's climate plan is progressing.

  • Equity in Climate Action - February 8, 2021

The City of Charlottesville has committed to including Equity as part of its Climate Action Plan and has partnered with the University of Virginia’s Institute for Engagement & Negotiation (IEN) to conduct this important conversation on equity for the City’s Climate Action Plan. This conversation around equity will be an integral part of the overarching discussions for all the community engagement efforts. In addition, we hope a separate continuous group will form to assist the City through the longer-term planning process.

We would like to have a diversity of community voices contribute to the conversation about how to ensure that the City’s Climate Action Plan represents our goals for climate equity. In addition to direct invitations that have been sent out, community members are invited to participate in this first important Equity in Climate Action conversation for the City of Charlottesville. 

  • Community Workshop (Virtual & Recorded) - December 14 and 15, 2020

Text announcing an "Acting on Climate Together" Community Workshop

Watch the Workshop Recording (the December 14th session)
Provide feedback and responses via the Post-Workshop Input Form

Description
As the first workshop in support of the City developing a Climate Action Plan, this workshop includes an introduction to Charlottesville's greenhouse gas (GHG) emission sources, examples of climate action strategies from other communities, some high-level example scenarios for meeting Charlottesville's GHG emission reduction targets, as well  as an overview of the Climate Action Plan development process.  

Workshop Recording & Schedule
To help increase community access, the workshop was offered twice with a recording and links to feedback materials posted here after the event. 
 

The workshop was divided into four 30-minute sections, each including opportunity for questions and answers.  Community members can "tune in" live or on the recording to specific segments: 

  • 00:00 - 00:30   Introduction and Overview of the Plan Development Process, Charlottesville's Emissions, and Example Climate Action Strategies
  • 00:30 - 01:00   Stationary Sources of Emissions (Buildings' Energy Use - Residential, Commercial)
  • 01:00 - 01:30   Renewable Energy 
  • 01:30 - 02:00   Transportation
  • Facilitated Community Stakeholder Discussions (by topic focus) - November & December 2020

Cville100 (Climate-focused Community Organizations) - process/topic scoping focus
Environmental and Climate Community Organizations
Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Service Providers + Property Managers