Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
A Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) is a roadmap for how the community of Grand Rapids will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change on our people, environment and infrastructure.
How It Began
On September 28, 2021, the Grand Rapids City Commission passed a resolution declaring climate change a crisis. The City Commission acknowledged that climate change is both one of the most urgent and complex challenges of our time. Recognizing this, the City prioritized the development and implementation of a Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) in its adopted Strategic Plan in 2019, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and preparing our community for the impacts of climate change. Work began in 2022 and continued through 2023 with a broad coalition of stakeholder representatives from the community, residential, business and local government sectors. Throughout the process, we have sought to ensure connectivity and alignment to the City's updated Community Master Plan. The CAAP is being co-created in partnership with these stakeholders to meet our community-wide science-based targets
- 62.8% per capita GHG reduction community-wide by 2030 from 2019 emissions
- 100% per capita GHG reduction by 2050 from 2019 emissions
A Community-Wide Plan
The City of Grand Rapids is committed to addressing the climate crisis by working towards the goals, strategies and actions outlined within this plan to achieve the adopted community-wide science-based targets. However, achieving Grand Rapids community-wide science-based targets will only be made possible with community buy-in and proceeding action. The City will act as a leader for this work by:
- Modeling emissions reductions in municipal facilities and fleet
- Implement actions under local control (ex. land use)
- Bring community stakeholders to the table and to move innovative solutions and community progress
- Advocate for legislative and regulatory changes
The CAAP was created from a mixture of data on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), climate risk and vulnerability, existing plans, and the lived experiences of residents and business owners. The process to create the plan followed the timeline below:
Chapter Overview
Chapter 1: Energy Systems
Address the generation, distribution and consumption of fossil fuel-based energy.
Chapter 2: Residential Homes
Increase the affordability, energy efficiency, health, climate resilience and access to renewable energy of housing.
Chapter 3: Buildings & industry
Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from buildings and industrial processes.
Chapter 4: Transportation & Vital Streets
Reduce reliance on fossil fuel powered single-occupancy vehicle usage and increase access to electric vehicles.
Chapter 5: Nature Based Solutions
Increase carbon sequestration and increase nature’s resilience to climate change.
Chapter 6: Food Systems
Reduce waste and increasing access to local food and growing opportunities.
