Washtenaw County to Begin Comprehensive Climate Action Planning Process

Washtenaw County – Last week, the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to allocate funds to climate action planning efforts. The resolution approves a contract with Resource Recycling Systems to assist in the development of a comprehensive, innovative, and accessible climate action plan for Washtenaw County, as a community and as an organization.  

“Moving the county’s climate work forward has been a goal since I entered office, so I am very excited to have reached this point,” said Sue Shink, Chair of the Board of Commissioners, and Commissioner for District 2. “By working with local experts and engaging with our community, we will be able to make significant strides to reduce emissions and make sure our social and built infrastructure is ready for more extreme weather.” 

 Resource Recycling Systems will work with Washtenaw County staff and a coalition of local professionals to focus on climate equity, adaption and mitigation strategies, and community engagement to help Washtenaw County achieve its climate action goals. Their proposal includes partnering with EcoWorks to lead a thorough community engagement process to inform the development of the Climate Action Plan. This will consist of over 50 engagement opportunities over the next twelve months for community members, particularly those most likely to be impacted by climate change.  

The end goal of this 12-month planning process is the creation of a climate action plan. This plan will collate new and existing data and will identify short and long-term strategies to reach Washtenaw County’s ambitious goals of carbon neutrality as an organization by 2030 and as a community by 2035. 

“We have set bold, progressive goals as a county, and the development of this plan will help us map out the path to achieving them,” said Jason Morgan, Commissioner for District 8. “We know wealthy communities will be able to plan and respond to the effects of climate change, while lower-income households and communities, those who will be the most impacted, do not have the same resources or access to opportunity. That is why it is critically important that this effort will develop a plan that centers equity.” 

 More information will be available soon HERE 

The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners is comprised of nine elected officials representing different Washtenaw County communities. The current Board will serve from January 2021 through December 2022.