Title
Vote on a recommendation from the Climate Change Advisory Committee to approve the request for proposals for development of a Chatham County Climate Action Plan
Abstract
Introduction & Background: The Chatham County Board of Commissioners (BOC) and the Climate Change Advisory Committee (CCAC) held a joint climate retreat in the fall of 2025. This retreat was designed as a way to level-set between the two bodies regarding climate change and explore the next steps to creating a Climate Action Plan. The consensus was that a consultant would be needed to develop the plan.
At the BOC budget retreat in January, the CCAC presented a potential framework for a Climate Action Plan. The BOC directed staff to begin the request for proposals (RFP) process to choose a consultant this fiscal year.
Discussion & Analysis: Chatham County has been pursuing sustainable and environmentally friendly policies for many years now. There are already many programs and policies in place that promote a healthy climate. The development of a Climate Action Plan will create a roadmap of specific actions that can focus County efforts to mitigate the County's impact on climate change and help us be more resilient to the effects of climate change we are already experiencing.
The RFP gives background from the events leading up to the development of a Climate Action Plan and provides some guidance on specific items Chatham County wants the plan to address. The RFP also expresses the County's desire to build robust public engagement into both the development and implementation of the climate action plan.
How does this relate to the Comprehensive Plan: The Climate Action Plan will build on the Comprehensive Plan (and other existing County plans and policies), which already has many action items and goals that will benefit the climate.
Budgetary Impact: There will be a cost to develop the Climate Action Plan. This has not yet been determined. The majority, if not all, of the cost...
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