Climate Action Planning

Access our award-winning process for developing a Climate Action Plan backed by stakeholder input, technical expertise, and experienced insights.

  • Climate + Carbon

Planning Solution

Accouting For 70%

of global CO₂ emissions, cities are on the frontlines of climate action.

Bring your vision into focus. Get a plan that’s realistic and right-sized for your community.

For Elected Officials

You’re balancing big goals with tight budgets and public expectations. Your city’s Climate Action Plan will help you demonstrate credible progress, attract funding, and strengthen public trust.

What you get:

  • A clear, actionable roadmap that connects policy to results
  • Milestone tracking for transparent reporting and accountability
  • Credible modeling that stands up to scrutiny
  • A plan that aligns departments and inspires your community
  • Understanding of implementation costs and savings opportunities

For City Staff

We know you’re the ones who have to make it all run. Our process makes sure your Climate Action Plan is doable, data-driven, and operationally sound—not just a report that sits on a shelf.

You’ll appreciate:

  • A structured, step-by-step process with clear deliverables
  • Realistic actions based on your existing systems and resources
  • Benchmarks and data models you can trust
  • Coordination tools that keep departments aligned and informed
  • Technical appendices for deeper implementation details

For Residents

It’s not easy to communicate with your fellow community members about everything going on in local government. We prioritize simple language and clear visuals, so everyone understands where you’re going and how you’ll get there.

You’ll appreciate:

  • A visually compelling final plan that is easy to understand
  • Graphics that clearly communicate the data they describe
  • Plain language information
  • Technical details for the citizen scientists that want to get into the weeds
  • Opportunities for input to ensure plans are tailored to community needs

Case Study

Fresh Coast’s Award-Winning Climate Action Plan for the City of Sterling Heights

Sterling Heights, Michigan didn’t just adopt a Climate Action Plan, they got straight to work on implementation. Just months after the city formally adopted its CAP, they had initiated 28 of the CAP actions. Sterling Heights also won the Outstanding Resilience and Sustainability Award from the Michigan Association of Planning for its CAP.

Read Case Study

This recognition is a proud moment for
our city and a testament to the thoughtful, forward-looking work of our Planning team. As a city, we are deeply committed to creating a sustainable and resilient future for our residents. The Climate Action Plan is not just a document—it’s a roadmap for positive change, and we’re excited to see our efforts recognized on a statewide platform.”

MICHAEL C. TAYLOR, MAYOR

Key Benefits

Build Community Resiliency

Leverage Data-Informed Decisions

Harness Stakeholder Input

How we make it happen

01

Assess.

Crunch the data. Find out where emissions really come from.

02

Engage.

Bring in the right departments, community groups, and stakeholders.

03

Analyze.

Model the best pathways and balance ambition with reality.

04

Plan.

Prioritize strategies with cost, timeline, and co-benefits in mind.

05

Implement.

Deliver a polished plan that guides funding, policy, and projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Climate Action Plan outlines strategies and actions an organization will take to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. It’s essential for organizations committed to reducing their climate footprint and achieving sustainability goals. Climate Action Planning ensures your sustainability decisions are not made in silos without alignment to broader organizational goals. While Climate Action Plans are most commonly used in the public sector by municipalities, they represent a critical framework for any organization committed to systematic, science-based emissions reduction. A Climate Action Plan delivers:

  • Strategic Clarity: Transform vague sustainability commitments into specific, actionable programs with clear timelines and accountability
  • Community Stakeholder Alignment: Engage local stakeholders, building trust and securing social license to operate
  • Regulatory Preparedness: Position your organization ahead of intensifying climate disclosure mandates and emissions requirements
  • Risk Mitigation: Systematically address physical climate risks (flooding, extreme weather) and transition risks (policy changes, market shifts)
  • Resource Efficiency: Prioritize investments based on science and local context

We work closely with our municipal clients to understand their unique needs and to assess their current situation. From there, we craft tailed actions for each community that are realistic, grounded in science, and appropriate for the local context of that community

Key components of a Climate Action Plan typically include establishing a baseline GHG inventory, engagement with the local community stakeholders, and the development of prioritized actions a community must engage in to meet their goals.