Building Climate Resilience in Southeast Michigan
Southeast Michigan’s changing climate presents many challenges for the health of our communities, environment, and economy. Working together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance natural areas, we can prevent future impacts to climate change, and ensure the region is a more resilient, equitable and thriving home for future generations. Log into your SEMCOG profile here to to stay informed with project updates, participate in future engagement opportunities, and learn more about SEMCOG’s climate and resilience planning work.
Southeast Michigan’s Healthy Climate Plan
The Southeast Michigan Healthy Climate Plan website incldues information on important meetings, engagement events and updates on the planning process. Visit the website here.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently approved the Southeast Michigan Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP), marking a big step towards climate action in Southeast Michigan. The purpose of the PCAP is to prioritize measures that will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance natural areas that capture climate pollution. Extensive stakeholder outreach, community engagement, and cross-sector coordination are integral to this goal and ensuring that these priority actions will benefit the region, with a focus on equity and environmental justice.
The priorities established in the PCAP are intended to address the region’s primary sources of GHG emissions, support by implementation-ready measures to reduce climate pollution by 2030. These priorities will lay the foundation for a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP), to be completed in 2025, with both near-and long-term solutions to reduce GHG emissions in all sectors by 2050.
Southeast Michigan Healthy Climate Task Force
SEMCOG will convene a Healthy Climate Task Force to lead this initiative and engage regional partners in consensus building and decision-making. The task force includes representatives from government, transportation, energy, business, health, development, workforce, and environmental sectors.
Healthy Climate Focus Groups
Focus Groups will engage subject matter experts to examine specific topics and provide recommendations to the Task Force. Focus groups are open to all SEMCOG members and regional partners, covering topics such as electric vehicles, public transit, energy efficiency, materials management, industrial uses, and nature-based solutions.
Community Engagement and Public Education
Community Engagement and Public Education will be critical to this process. SEMCOG and a consultant team will facilitate meetings, surveys, webinars, and other outreach opportunities through existing networks to raise public awareness and collect community input about priorities for future implementation.