Raleigh’s work in climate action began in 2007, when City Council endorsed the US Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, which committed the City to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Emissions Inventories
The City has performed two GHG emissions inventories, one for 2007 and one for 2014, to identify the sources of GHG emissions in Raleigh and see how those emissions are changing over time.
- In 2012, Raleigh released our municipal Climate Energy Action Plan, a plan to reduce GHG emissions from our own operations, buildings, and vehicles.
- Between the two emissions inventories, we saw a 19% reduction in municipal emissions. In this same time period, GHG emissions from our community increased by two percent.
Climate Action Plan
In 2019, City Council established a climate goal for our community: Achieve an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, from 2007 levels, by the year 2050.
The Community Climate Action Plan is aimed at achieving this goal. The City of Raleigh is committed to taking action on climate change in our Strategic Plan and 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Across City departments, we are working to reduce the use of energy and fossil fuels, to increase the resilience of our infrastructure, and to prepare our communities for the impacts of climate change.
Programs, Policies and Plans
The links below are only a sample of programs, policies and plans Raleigh has developed in recent years to address climate change.
| Program, Policy or Plan Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Raleigh’s Climate Energy Action Plan (2012) | This plan included strategies to reduce emissions from City buildings, fleet and other processes. The largest project that came out of this plan is the Raleigh Water Bio-energy Recovery Project. |
| Triangle Regional Resilience Assessment (2018) | This document is the result of a regional process with other cities and counties in the Triangle to understand climate risks and develop cooperative strategies to build resilience. |
| Transportation Electrification Study (2019) | This study recommends steps the City can take to help the City of Raleigh and Raleigh residents and businesses adopt electric vehicles for personal use and in vehicle fleets. |
| Raleigh’s Complete Streets approach | This approach to roadway design allows for cars, cyclists, and pedestrians to share road space safely. It also encourages street trees, green stormwater infrastructure and traffic calming measures to make travel safe and comfortable while reducing ghg emissions. |
| Raleigh’s Green Stormwater Infrastructure approach | This approach for City streets and facilities helps reduce flood risk and improve water quality by incorporating natural features to reduce and filter runoff. |