City of East Grand Rapids Climate Action Plan

East Grand Rapids is a Michigan municipality committed to leading in sustainability and environmental stewardship. In 2022, the City set an ambitious goal: achieving carbon neutrality for its government operations by 2040. While East Grand Rapids had already begun implementing reduction initiatives by 2024, it lacked a clear understanding of its baseline emissions and the gap it needed to close to meet its target. In response, the City partnered with GZA’s Sustainability Team to develop a Climate Action Plan (CAP) — a comprehensive, public-facing roadmap toward a carbon-neutral future.

Challenge

East Grand Rapids had committed to carbon neutrality; however, it did not have a full understanding of its starting emissions levels or a strategy to reach its goal. Without a baseline GHG inventory or forecast, planning future actions would be difficult. The City needed an actionable, clear, and community-supported Climate Action Plan to chart the course to 2040, including realistic emissions reduction steps, timelines, and potential partnerships, all while maintaining public trust and momentum.

Solution

GZA worked closely with City staff and community stakeholders to create a Climate Action Plan tailored to East Grand Rapids’ unique needs and aspirations. The project involved compiling and analyzing historic emissions data, forecasting business-as-usual emissions, identifying the gap to carbon neutrality, and crafting a clear, achievable roadmap of reduction strategies. The Plan not only incorporated current initiatives but also explored new technologies, partnerships, and feasible strategies — all while actively engaging the community through a public workshop. The final deliverable included both a traditional report and an interactive and streamlined version of the Climate Action Plan through StoryMap to maximize accessibility.

Benefit

With the adoption of the Climate Action Plan in December 2024, East Grand Rapids now has a clear and strategic pathway to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. The Plan empowers the City to make informed decisions, prioritize impactful initiatives, and pursue funding opportunities with a well-documented roadmap. Through this process, East Grand Rapids has strengthened its leadership role in local sustainability efforts and built a foundation for continued community engagement, resilience, and innovation. The CAP not only advances the City’s environmental goals but also enhances livability, economic vitality, and the health of its residents for generations to come.