Climate Action Plans

In conjunction with a state's GHG reduction targets, the development of a comprehensive Climate Action Plan is essential to any state or municipalities efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Once GHG emissions targets are set, a Climate Action Plan can provide the roadmap or guide to achieving those targets.

A comprehensive climate action plan may have several recommendations based on the composition of a state's emissions. For example, California's Climate Action Team report has 9 key recommendations including a multi sector, market-based system that includes trading, mandatory reporting of GHG emissions reporting, and an aggressive alternative fuels program. (You can download the Executive Summary below.)

Even more critical is a mechanism to implement and enforce the recommendations made in the report. California's Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 codifies California's Greenhouse Gas Emissions targets and implements the state's Climate Action Team report.

States with Completed Climate Action Plans

Arizona (August 2006), California (December 2005), Colorado (November, 2007), Connecticut (December 2003), Maine (November 2004), Massachusetts (2003), Montana (November, 2007), New Mexico (2006), New York (2003), Oregon (December, 2004), Rhode Island (2002), Vermont (October, 2007), Washington (February, 2008)

States with Plans Underway

Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin

States with Assessments Underway

Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, New Hampshire, Utah, Wyoming