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).
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.
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.
Who we are
This Climate Action Plan was developed during 2020 by a coalition led by Climate Action KC and the Mid-America Regional Council, together with hundreds of interested community members, stakeholders and decision-makers. The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, a worldwide collaboration among 10,000 municipalities, helped guide the plan’s development.
Stay informed
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