PlanRVA begins next phase of community outreach for climate action plan

May 24

We hope you’ll share feedback for the region’s Comprehensive Climate Action Plan – a roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout Central Virginia.

A new survey is open until June 28 to submit your ideas.

Known as the CCAP, the plan represents the next phase of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program through the Environmental Protection Agency.

PlanRVA received a $1 million planning grant from the EPA in 2023 and is leading the creation of the region’s climate action plan. Earlier this year, we completed and submitted the Priority  Climate Action Plan (PCAP), which focused on transportation and waste measures to reduce greenhouse emissions.

More than 800 people shared feedback for PCAP and PlanRVA is focused on reaching even more people for the CCAP.

This future-looking plan is important and could lead to regional funding opportunities

While climate change and pollution impact everyone, we know under-resourced communities are disproportionately affected.

Studies show low-income and communities of color face higher risks of illness and death from extreme heat, climate-driven floods and air pollution and often lack access to adequate flood infrastructure, green spaces, safe housing and often lack protective resources. Meanwhile, climate change contributes to ongoing disparities in the resources needed to prepare for, respond to and recover from climate impacts.

We need everyone’s perspectives to develop solutions.

The CCAP represents one of the first opportunities to collect and aggregate data related to local causes of greenhouse gas emissions, along with strategies to reduce impacts.

PlanRVA leaders believe that the climate action plan will set our region up for success in the future. Your feedback now can help us compete for grants to pay for projects that support the environment and the green economy.

Many ways to engage in the CPRG process

PlanRVA and its locality partners are focused on collecting community input during the planning process, with an emphasis on engaging overburdened and historically underinvested communities throughout the region.

In addition to the survey, PlanRVA is organizing a series of Community Ideation Sessions in June aligned with the six economic sectors in the CCAP – agriculture, buildings, industry, energy, transportation and waste. These will happen virtually and in-person and will be an opportunity to brainstorm and share perspectives. Register for the events.

Additional community engagement events will be planned for July.

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