During State of the County Address, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley Unveils Climate Action 2050 Plan
New planning effort creates blueprint for Milwaukee County to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in county operations by 2050
MILWAUKEE – During the 2025 State of the County Address, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced the completion of the Milwaukee County Climate Action 2050 (CA50) Plan. This new blueprint is aimed at achieving net-zero carbon emissions in Milwaukee County operations by the year 2050.
On Earth Day 2021, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors adopted File No. 21-389 committing the County to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2050. The legislation recognizes that reducing or offsetting carbon emissions is critical to lessening the impacts of climate change.
Following this action, County Executive Crowley’s administration began a collaborative planning effort that aligns with each County department’s strategic priorities as they relate to environmental sustainability. The Milwaukee County CA50 Plan is the result of a robust planning process that engaged diverse stakeholders on aligning the County’s climate goals with its vision to become the healthiest in Wisconsin by achieving equity in all measurable areas.
“In Milwaukee County, we know that the climate crisis is a real, pressing threat to our environment, our economy, our health, and our quality of life,” said County Executive Crowley. “The Milwaukee County Climate Action Plan provides policymakers, stakeholders, and local leaders with a framework to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, while advancing equity, justice, and resilience throughout our community. I’m looking forward to implementing the Milwaukee County CA50 Plan to promote clean energy, improve health conditions, create jobs, and combat the climate crisis in Wisconsin.”
The Climate Action 2050 Plan will deploy policies and procedures to achieve net zero operational emissions and support local job creation efforts, community well-being, urban heat island reduction, and more. Progress has already been realized through this effort, with Milwaukee County reporting a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 to 2023.
The plan also describes Milwaukee County’s approach to decarbonization, which includes avoiding new sources of emissions, reducing existing emissions by implementing efficiency practices, substituting fuel sources for lower carbon alternatives, and finally as the lowest priority option, the purchase of credible carbon offsets.
The Milwaukee County CA50 Plan will be considered by the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors in the weeks ahead.
“The Climate Action 2050 Plan allows us to make informed decisions on reducing emissions and mitigating climate vulnerabilities in Milwaukee County,” said Supervisor Anne O’Connor. “These efforts solidify Milwaukee County’s commitment to climate action across our operations and communities.”
As part of CA50 planning, a Climate Vulnerability Assessment was performed. This identified three key climate hazards that will affect Milwaukee County residents in future years: Increased heat waves, flooding, and acute air quality hazards. The Office of Sustainability also developed specific goals included in the Climate Action 2050 Plan on energy efficiency investments, fleet upgrades, on-site solar efforts, and more.
“This plan shows Milwaukee County’s collaborative support for greenhouse gas emission reduction. The strategies we’ve outlined will positively impact Milwaukee County residents, while working to achieve our goal of net zero operational emissions by 2050,” said Grant Helle, Director, Milwaukee County Office of Sustainability.
The CA50 planning process engaged diverse stakeholder feedback through in-person community listening sessions, an online climate vulnerability survey that garnered over 755 responses representing all Milwaukee County zip codes, internal webinars, and presentations to community organizations and County departments.
The Milwaukee County CA50 Plan is supported by several stakeholders, including the Milwaukee County Sustainability Task Force, Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition, City County Advisory Board on Climate and Equity, Local Governments for Sustainability, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County, and the American Lung Association Wisconsin Chapter.
“The completion of the CA50 plan is an important step in Milwaukee County’s efforts to achieve net zero operational emissions. The County’s process and leadership in this effort are excellent examples for other local governments across the state, and we look forward to seeing this plan implemented,” said Allison Carlson, Executive Director, Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition (WLGCC).
The full plan is available to view HERE.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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