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On Tuesday, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners updated the county's goals to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with an interim goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030.
These emission reduction goals apply to both the geographic area of the county and county operations. These goals are more ambitious than the State of Minnesota’s goals and position Hennepin County as a leader on addressing climate change in the upper Midwest.
The county’s goals are based on the global consensus from scientists working with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and align with the goals of the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change, aimed at rapidly reducing greenhouse gases to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change.
Timeline toward board adoption of the Climate Action Plan
The board is close to finalizing the first Hennepin County Climate Action Plan that outlines the path forward to meeting these ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.
In addition to providing a framework for how the county will pursue initiatives to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the plan defines strategies to adapt to the changing climate to ensure a more equitable and resilient Hennepin County.
The plan will be considered by the board in committee meetings on Tuesday, April 27, and brought forward for final adoption in the following board meeting on Tuesday, May 4.
Final feedback on the plan is being gathered through the Climate Action Plan feedback form. Comments must be submitted by noon on Thursday, April 22. The feedback will be summarized and shared with commissioners prior to the committee meetings on Tuesday, April 27.
You can also provide feedback on the plan with your county commissioner or participate in Open Forum ahead of the board meetings on Tuesday, April 27 and Tuesday, May 4. Learn more about the public participation process at board meetings.
The county board took several other actions related to the county's climate work and in recognition of Earth Day:
- Established a new director position of Climate and Resiliency, which will be critical to implementing and integrating the countywide framework laid out in the Climate Action Plan.
- Adopted a resolution for Earth Day recognizing that environmental education, community engagement, and partnerships are critical to meeting the county's goals and fulfilling its mission, especially as the county takes bolder action on climate change.
- Approved joining the U.S. Plastics Pact to build on county efforts to transition to zero waste and support residents and businesses taking action on plastic waste and pollution.
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