Net Zero Kansas City Region by 2050

The Kansas City Regional Climate Action Plan (CAP) aims to transform the metropolitan area into a more resilient, equitable and healthy community. This plan creates a voluntary framework to guide and align local action in ways that make a difference for the entire Kansas City region. The comprehensive set of strategies found in the plan can be tailored to meet local community needs and priorities.

An ambitious set of interrelated strategies will help to mitigate climate change by achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and adapt to and bounce forward from the many risks climate change poses. Linkages among plan strategies are abundant and intentional.

Our plan is ambitious, comprehensive and urgent.

Interim net zero goals focus on local government operations (by 2030), energy generation (by 2035), and homes and buildings (by 2040).

Through an EPA Climate Pollution Grant (CPRG), MARC is currently developing priorities for the implementation of the Climate Action Plan, and working toward a CPRG implementation grant due April 1. Find out how you can get involved here!

How to read this plan:

  • As a voluntary framework, the plan is designed to help leaders, businesses, organizations and residents identify and implement strategies that make sense for their communities.
  • The plan was developed for use in the 10-county metropolitan region but does not imply that communities within the area have endorsed or approved the plan. To date, 19 communities in the region – representing 83% of the metropolitan population – have taken supporting actions regarding the plan.
Climate Action Plan Cover

Action Sections

The action plan is divided into nine sections, each with an overview, set of goals, strategies and specific actions.

Collaboration & Leadership

Leadership development and capacity building across communities, organizations and businesses is fundamental to achieving the level of change required to attain planning goals.

Energy
Generation

Replacing fossil fuels with unlimited, renewable and clean alternatives like wind and solar is an essential step toward mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Transportation

Reducing the amount we travel and using fuel sources that produce fewer greenhouse gases help to reduce emissions from sources in the resources in the transportation sector.

Urban Greening 

Nature-based solutions present meaningful, scalable opportunities to mitigate for greenhouse gas emissions, while helping with adaptation and resilience toward climate threats.

Finance & Innovation

Create an environment that increases and encourages participation, access and impact to address climate inequities and access to programs and initiatives.

Food Systems

Support and advocate for food and agriculture advancements that reduce emissions, improve livelihoods and ensure access to affordable, quality food.

Healthy & Resilient Homes & Buildings

New buildings can take advantage of more efficient design and construction standards, while modifying existing buildings has the greatest potential for energy savings.

Community Resilience

Nature-based solutions present meaningful, scalable opportunities to mitigate for greenhouse gas emissions, while helping with adaptation and resilience toward key climate threats of heat and flooding.

Industry & Resource Management 

Reducing waste and keeping resources in use for as long as possible through recycling and composting (a circular economy), can reduce the waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

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