In June of 2019, Columbia adopted its Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), laying out a vision and strategy to address risks posed by climate change and contribute to international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The CAAP aims to reduce community emissions by 35% by 2035, 80% by 2050, and 100% by 2060.
The purpose of the CAAP is twofold:
- To prepare Columbia’s natural and built environments (its neighborhoods, resources, and systems) and people to be more resilient to the impacts of climate change; and
- To reduce greenhouse gas emissions community-wide through targeted municipal, residential, and commercial activities
While the City of Columbia is taking actions of its own to enhance sustainability and resilience, a key element to lowering emissions is community action. Columbia residents can help move Columbia to a cleaner, safer, more sustainable future by understanding the steps in the CAAP and the role that individuals can play in the Plan’s goals, strategies, and actions.
The Columbia Climate Action and Adaptation Dashboard is an interactive dashboard that allows residents to explore the CAAP, better understand what activities generate GHG emissions, and take action to mitigate environmental impacts in their own life.
The Dashboard provides multiple interactive sections, each of which allows community members to learn more and get involved with the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan in different ways.
The Climate Action and Adaptation Plan page allows community members to explore the updated plan and its actions. You can click through the action plan table to see the specific goals the City has to reduce emissions, the status of the action, and co-benefits each action offers. The page also provides background on the development of the CAAP and provides links to Columbia’s latest greenhouse gas inventory and CAAP Annual Reports, which provide an update on our progress on CAAP goals.
The Climate Action and Adaptation revolves around several key focus areas that will drive the City, its residents, schools, and non-profits toward a more sustainable and resilient future. Ready to jump into those focus areas? Check out the Home Dashboard Page, which connects residents to the data that drives our climate action decisions, Columbia-specific information on climate change and its impacts, and ways to get involved.
Each section of the Dashboard provides specific actions that residents can take to make everyday elements of your life more sustainable – like installing home solar panels or proper waste disposal and composting.
We all have a part to play in building a sustainable community. For residents who want to see opportunities for action all in one place, look to the What You Can Do page, which highlights specific actions, rebates, and resources that residents can utilize to make a positive impact on our climate. From making small improvements to your home to switching to an electric vehicle, local resources are available to meet you wherever you are in your climate action journey.
Thank you for being a part of our community. Continue to check back for our monthly blog updates!