County executive signs county’s Climate Action Plan

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – On Thursday, County Executive Adam Bello signed into law the Monroe County Climate Action Plan with the goal of reducing the county’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.

The 86-page plan specifies how the county’s buildings will transition to running on renewable energy and how the county’s water treatment facilities will become more energy efficient, among other things.

You can see a summary of the plan here.

“The launch of our Climate Action Plan fulfills a promise I made to combat the impacts of climate change on our region, securing a healthier future for our children,” said County Executive Bello. “This plan will build on our current operations to continue our reduction in greenhouse gasses. Our success will be a guide for businesses and other municipalities as they embark on similar initiatives. Thank you to the Monroe County Legislature and the Climate Action Plan Advisory Committee for their work on this important plan.”

In March 2020, the Monroe County Legislature authorized the creation of a Climate Action Plan Advisory Committee to create a Climate Action Plan for the county. The plan includes two-phases : phase one targets emissions from county-run sites, facilities, and operations. The Climate Action Plan Advisory Committee will begin to develop the plan’s second phase this month with a focus on private industry operations and land use. The second phase of the plan is scheduled to be completed by December 2023.

The Climate Action Plan is a framework for prioritizing future policies and projects to reduce GHG emissions. The plan will be audited in 2025, and reviews will occur every five years to measure the county’s progression towards its goals. The results of the audits will be public and will drive decision-making.