About the Climate Action Plan
With input from residents, community organizations, businesses, and government agencies, Allegheny County’s Department of Sustainability is developing the county’s first Climate Action Plan (CAP). The CAP will be a regional vision to improve quality of life while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and ensuring that public dollars support efficient, sustainable county operations.
See the schedule of upcoming community pop-up events for more opportunities to engage with the Climate Action Plan.
Take the Phase III Survey today!
Recent Updates
From April 2025 to May 2026, the CAP team has:
Phase I Summary
During Phase I, the Sustainability team attended over 40 community events, directly engaging with over 2,500 residents and 80 organizations. This included hosting 30 regional coordination meetings concerning climate action, forming the Climate Working Group (CWG) with over 55 non-profit organizations, utility companies, technical assistance providers, and local business leaders, and receiving 530 responses to the first survey. From feedback from so many community members, the CAP vision. goals, and values were drafted.
Vision
An Allegheny County where all people thrive and have a healthy environment because we take climate action together, for our neighbors and for future generations.
Goals
By 2050, Allegheny County has healthy communities and a healthy environment, as well as affordable energy, convenient transportation, quality housing, and economic opportunity.
By 2050, Allegheny County, both geographical county, and county operations, will be carbon neutral.
Values
- Equity and Inclusion: Ensure equitable access to climate solutions and meaningful participation in decisions, prioritizing historically underserved communities
- Healthy Communities and Environment: Improve the health of people and the health of local ecosystems
- Economic Opportunity: Increase economic prosperity by creating opportunity and lowering costs
Phase II Summary
In Phase II of this plan, Allegheny County identified strategies, actions, and responsible parties to lead the effort to meet the community-identified goals, vision, and values for a more sustainable future. As the framework was developed, it was essential to the CAP that values were front and center, and that the Allegheny County community could continue to provide feedback to ensure the plan, and the strategies and actions, contributed to a more equitable and inclusive, healthy, and prosperous Allegheny County, while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
View the community-wide and county operations greenhouse gas inventory.
The Sustainability team hosted four community meetings throughout the county in October 2025. Meeting recordings are available in English and Spanish, and the Climate Action Plan public meeting presentation is available for review.
Phase III - Current
In Phase III, efforts are focused on analyzing data, building and strengthening partnerships, reflecting feedback collected during earlier phases, and developing draft strategies and actions that will lead Allegheny County to a healthier, brighter, cleaner, and more affordable future.
Between June and July of 2026, the Sustainability team will be asking community members to help prioritize what actions and strategies will be most beneficial. Attend one of the upcoming community pop-up events to provide feedback and insights on the final stages of the Allegheny County Climate Action Plan. Additional pop-up events and an online survey will be announced soon.
The success of the CAP is reliant on the feedback of as many Allegheny County residents, businesses, and organizations as possible.
Sectors and Strategies
The Climate Action Plan is comprised of seven focus areas with key strategies in each section to address realistic change throughout Allegheny County.
| Focus Area | Purpose | Strategies |
|---|
| Buildings and Built Infrastructure | Thoughtful design and maintenance of buildings to reduce utility costs while increasing safety and comfort | - Ensure new buildings are highly efficient, low-carbon, resilient, and net-zero ready
- Retrofit housing and commercial buildings for energy efficiency, resilience, and decarbonization
- Adapt buildings to climate change
- Decarbonize district energy systems
|
| Electricity Grid | Equitable distribution of clean, reliable energy to protect people while reducing costs and pollution | - Transition to carbon-free electricity generation
- increase resiliency of grid electrical systems
- Deploy solar
- Deploy battery, microgrid, and other DER systems
- Build data centers sustainably
|
| Industry and Fuels | Transition to a cleaner industrial and manufacturing future to reduce pollution and ensure the region remains economically competitive | - Decarbonize existing industrial processes
- Deploy carbon-free hydrogen and biomethane
- Accelerate replacement of gas pipelines
- Support clean tech, circular economy, and green manufacturing
- Reduce emissions from operating abandoned or orphaned wells
|
| Transportation | Safe and accessible transportation to connect users to essential resources and opportunities | - Increase walkability, bikeability, and micromobility
- Pursue placemaking and efficient land use
- Increase public transit use
- Manage congestion
- Electrify light-duty vehicles
- Decarbonize medium- and heavy-duty vehicles
|
| Waste and Resource Use | Improve recycling, reuse, and disposal opportunities to benefit people and the environment | - Reduce waste
- Improve management of waste
- Implement composting programs
|
| Natural Systems | Green spaces, trees, and undeveloped areas can support clean air, provide shade, reduce temperatures, and provide wildlife habitats | - Nature-based solutions
- Integrate people, community, and environment
- Manage land and forests for natural sequestration
|
| Food and Water | Sustainable, local food systems and clean water to support thriving communities, economies, and people | - Support agriculture across urban, suburban, and rural landscapes
- Implement sustainable agricultural practices
- Reduce flooding and improve water quality
- Decarbonize water and sewer services
- Champion food justice and increase food access within Allegheny County
|
About the Climate Action Plan
With input from residents, community organizations, businesses, and government agencies, Allegheny County’s Department of Sustainability is developing the county’s first Climate Action Plan (CAP). The CAP will be a regional vision to improve quality of life while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and ensuring that public dollars support efficient, sustainable county operations.
See the schedule of upcoming community pop-up events for more opportunities to engage with the Climate Action Plan.
Take the Phase III Survey today!
Recent Updates
From April 2025 to May 2026, the CAP team has:
Phase I Summary
During Phase I, the Sustainability team attended over 40 community events, directly engaging with over 2,500 residents and 80 organizations. This included hosting 30 regional coordination meetings concerning climate action, forming the Climate Working Group (CWG) with over 55 non-profit organizations, utility companies, technical assistance providers, and local business leaders, and receiving 530 responses to the first survey. From feedback from so many community members, the CAP vision. goals, and values were drafted.
Vision
An Allegheny County where all people thrive and have a healthy environment because we take climate action together, for our neighbors and for future generations.
Goals
By 2050, Allegheny County has healthy communities and a healthy environment, as well as affordable energy, convenient transportation, quality housing, and economic opportunity.
By 2050, Allegheny County, both geographical county, and county operations, will be carbon neutral.
Values
- Equity and Inclusion: Ensure equitable access to climate solutions and meaningful participation in decisions, prioritizing historically underserved communities
- Healthy Communities and Environment: Improve the health of people and the health of local ecosystems
- Economic Opportunity: Increase economic prosperity by creating opportunity and lowering costs
Phase II Summary
In Phase II of this plan, Allegheny County identified strategies, actions, and responsible parties to lead the effort to meet the community-identified goals, vision, and values for a more sustainable future. As the framework was developed, it was essential to the CAP that values were front and center, and that the Allegheny County community could continue to provide feedback to ensure the plan, and the strategies and actions, contributed to a more equitable and inclusive, healthy, and prosperous Allegheny County, while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
View the community-wide and county operations greenhouse gas inventory.
The Sustainability team hosted four community meetings throughout the county in October 2025. Meeting recordings are available in English and Spanish, and the Climate Action Plan public meeting presentation is available for review.
Phase III - Current
In Phase III, efforts are focused on analyzing data, building and strengthening partnerships, reflecting feedback collected during earlier phases, and developing draft strategies and actions that will lead Allegheny County to a healthier, brighter, cleaner, and more affordable future.
Between June and July of 2026, the Sustainability team will be asking community members to help prioritize what actions and strategies will be most beneficial. Attend one of the upcoming community pop-up events to provide feedback and insights on the final stages of the Allegheny County Climate Action Plan. Additional pop-up events and an online survey will be announced soon.
The success of the CAP is reliant on the feedback of as many Allegheny County residents, businesses, and organizations as possible.
Sectors and Strategies
The Climate Action Plan is comprised of seven focus areas with key strategies in each section to address realistic change throughout Allegheny County.
| Focus Area | Purpose | Strategies |
|---|
| Buildings and Built Infrastructure | Thoughtful design and maintenance of buildings to reduce utility costs while increasing safety and comfort | - Ensure new buildings are highly efficient, low-carbon, resilient, and net-zero ready
- Retrofit housing and commercial buildings for energy efficiency, resilience, and decarbonization
- Adapt buildings to climate change
- Decarbonize district energy systems
|
| Electricity Grid | Equitable distribution of clean, reliable energy to protect people while reducing costs and pollution | - Transition to carbon-free electricity generation
- increase resiliency of grid electrical systems
- Deploy solar
- Deploy battery, microgrid, and other DER systems
- Build data centers sustainably
|
| Industry and Fuels | Transition to a cleaner industrial and manufacturing future to reduce pollution and ensure the region remains economically competitive | - Decarbonize existing industrial processes
- Deploy carbon-free hydrogen and biomethane
- Accelerate replacement of gas pipelines
- Support clean tech, circular economy, and green manufacturing
- Reduce emissions from operating abandoned or orphaned wells
|
| Transportation | Safe and accessible transportation to connect users to essential resources and opportunities | - Increase walkability, bikeability, and micromobility
- Pursue placemaking and efficient land use
- Increase public transit use
- Manage congestion
- Electrify light-duty vehicles
- Decarbonize medium- and heavy-duty vehicles
|
| Waste and Resource Use | Improve recycling, reuse, and disposal opportunities to benefit people and the environment | - Reduce waste
- Improve management of waste
- Implement composting programs
|
| Natural Systems | Green spaces, trees, and undeveloped areas can support clean air, provide shade, reduce temperatures, and provide wildlife habitats | - Nature-based solutions
- Integrate people, community, and environment
- Manage land and forests for natural sequestration
|
| Food and Water | Sustainable, local food systems and clean water to support thriving communities, economies, and people | - Support agriculture across urban, suburban, and rural landscapes
- Implement sustainable agricultural practices
- Reduce flooding and improve water quality
- Decarbonize water and sewer services
- Champion food justice and increase food access within Allegheny County
|
