Michigan Cities Taking Action on Climate

MICAN and Michigan Green Communities have compiled this list of climate actions (plans and goals) that communities are taking across the state.

This list is to help community leaders and activists move their town forward and help more Michigan cities take meaningful climate action. You can download a printable list here.

Climate Action Plans by Michigan Cities

There are at least eleven cities and counties in Michigan with climate action plans, and two more cities have plans in development. At least nine Michigan communities have set clean energy or greenhouse gas reduction goals, and two have set 100% renewable energy goals.

Community	Date of Plan	Energy or Climate Goal
City of Ann Arbor Climate Action Plan	July 2012	90% GHG reduction by 2050 100% Renewables for City Operations by 2035
City of Dearborn Initial Climate Action Plan	August 2012	10% GHG reduction by 2015
City of Detroit Climate Action Plan	July 2019	35% reduction in municipal emissions by 2024 and to be net-zero emissions by 2050. The citywide goal of 30% reduction by 2025.
City of Grand Rapids Sustainability Plan and Report	April 2013	100% Renewables by 2025
City of Hazel Park Energy Action Plan	September 2012	50% GHG reduction by 2050
City of Kalamazoo Climate Action Plan	April 2017	26%-28% GHG reduction by 2025 90% GHG reduction by 2050
City of Petoskey Climate Action Plan	June 2019	100% Clean Energy Citywide by 2035
City of Southgate Climate Action Plan	September 2012	50% GHG reduction by 2050
City of Traverse City Climate Action Plan	February 2011 December 2016 August 2018	25% GHG reduction by 2012 100% Renewables for City Operations by 2020 *100% Community-Wide Renewables by 2040, with 40% renewables by 2025 interim goal
City of Ypsilanti Climate Action Plan	July 2012	50% GHG reduction by 2050
Meridian Township Climate Action Plan	October 2017	50% Renewables by 2025 100% Renewables for city operations by 2035
Northport Village UofM Feasibility Study	April 2016	100% Renewables by 2025
*This is the first 100% community-wide renewable goal for any city in Michigan. Plans Related to Climate Action and Renewable Energy
City of Holland Community Energy Plan	September 2011
City of East Lansing Climate Sustainability Plan	April 2012
City of Farmington Hills 2020 Vision	October 2011

Climate Action by Michigan Colleges & Military Bases

At least seven of Michigan’s colleges and universities – some the size of small cities – have set clean energy or climate goals. The Army National Guard has set a goal for Michigan’s Camp Grayling base to be its first base to achieve net-zero energy use (and water use and waste production), with similar goals for Fort Custer and Selfridge Air Base.

Colleges and Universities
Albion College Climate Action Plan	October 2009	Carbon neutrality by 2035
Grand Valley State University Climate Action Plan	January 2012	80% GHG reduction by 2050
Kalamazoo College Sustainability and Climate Action Plan	January 2010	25% GHG reduction by 2020
Northern Michigan University Sustainability Plan	April 2017	Creation of a green fund to strive to reach carbon neutrality
Michigan State University Energy Transition Plan	January 2012	60% GHG reduction by 2030 and 100% clean energy transition
University of Michigan Ann Arbor Climate Action Plan and Sustainability Goals	April 2011	25% GHG reduction by 2025
Wayne State University Strategic Energy Plan	September 2010	Carbon neutrality by 2030
Western Michigan University Climate Action Plan	April 2012	Climate neutrality by 2065
Military Bases
Michigan Army National Guard Fort Custer, Camp Grayling, and Selfridge Air Bases	June 2016	Camp Grayling Net Zero Energy by 2017 (100% RE)

Mayors Commit to Climate action

In 2014, the Compact of Mayors was launched, and the mayors of Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Muskegon and South Haven have signed on to date, committing to set ambitious targets for GHG emissions reductions and transparent reporting to complement national efforts. In 2007, 30 mayors of Michigan cities signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, committing to reduce climate emissions in their communities and to urge state and federal government to address climate change. While the targets in this commitment are now dated, it is useful to note the commitments of these communities to climate action.

Climate Adaptation & Resiliency Plans

A number of communities in Michigan have developed adaptation or resiliency plans to help prepare for the impacts of climate change, like more intense storms and heat waves. These plans do not address reducing communities’ GHG emissions, but that could be the next step.

Community	Plan
Alger County	Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Plan
Cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph	Adapting to Climate Change and Variability and Resilient St. Joseph
City of Grand Haven and Grand Haven Charter Township	Resilient Grand Haven
City of Grand Rapids	Climate Resiliency Report
City of East Jordan	Resilient East Jordan
City of Ludington	City of Ludington Master Plan
City of Holland	Resilient Grand Haven
Macomb County, City of St. Clair Shores	Resilient Macomb/St. Clair
Marquette County	Lake Superior Climate Adaptation, Mitigation, and Implementation Plan
Monroe County	Resilient Monroe
Muskegon County	Muskegon County Sustainability Plan
Peaine and St. James Townships	Resilient Beaver Island
State of Michigan	Michigan Climate and Heath Adaptation Program

Michigan Climate Change and Adaptation Resources

Great Lakes Adaptation Assessment for Cities Climate Fact Sheets

LIAA Planning for Resilient Communities

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Climate and Health Adaptation Program

Michigan Cities Taking Action on Climate