Cleveland Climate Action Plan updates underway for 2023-2024

Surveys kick off a yearlong process to address climate challenges, extreme weather conditions 

October 12, 2023 — Cleveland — The City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office of Sustainability is taking steps to update both the community-focused Climate Action Plan (CAP) and the operations-focused Municipal Action Plan (MAP).   

Originally established in 2013, the City’s climate plans have been instrumental in setting a course toward sustainability and resilience. With the changing climate and its growing impacts on communities, it is essential to update and enhance these plans to ensure they remain effective in mitigating climate-related challenges.  

In recent years, Cleveland has witnessed an alarming increase in extreme weather events, including severe storms, flooding, and extreme heat, which are projected to have severe long-term impacts on the city's economy and public health. This year alone, the city faced its longest recorded period without rain (21 days), its worst recorded air quality on June 28, and its first tornado in over three decades. 

To address these pressing challenges and enhance our current plans, the City of Cleveland is developing a Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA). To inform the development of the CRVA, the City has launched two comprehensive surveys that delve into identifying and understanding critical climate hazards that may affect the city in the coming decades.   

The first survey is community-focused and open to all who live and work in Cleveland. The community's perspective is crucial in outlining a collective vision towards a sustainable future. This survey is open to the public and the input received will be fundamental in shaping the new CAP.  

The second survey is exclusively for City of Cleveland employees, designed to gather insights and feedback on city operations. This internal survey is an integral part of the process, ensuring that the city's own workforce is actively involved in updating the Municipal Action Plan (MAP).  

Both surveys will provide valuable information and opinions from both residents and employees working within the city.    

The surveys are now available online through Tuesday, October 31, 2023.  

For those unable to participate online, hard copies are available upon request and can be picked up at the Office of Sustainability at 75 Erieview Plaza - Suite 115. Please contact us at Sustainability@ClevelandOhio.gov or call 216-664-2455 for further assistance. 

To learn more about the climate action plan updating process, visit: SustainableCleveland.org/ClimateActionUpdate