April 30, 2025

During Earth Month, County Executive David Crowley Signs Legislation Approving Climate Action 2050 Plan 

New climate plan creates blueprint for Milwaukee County to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in county operations by 2050

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley celebrated Arbor Day and Earth Month at Tippecanoe Park by signing File #25-262, legislation approving 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, marking a significant step forward in the County’s commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship. The full Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors approved the legislation yesterday.

“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.”

“This plan is about more than emissions,” said Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson. “It invests in our people — creating good jobs, modernizing our infrastructure, and prioritizing the health and resilience of our most vulnerable communities. Sustainability without justice isn’t true progress.”

In 2021, 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 led by Crowley’s administration 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.

The Climate Action 2050 Plan will deploy policies and procedures to achieve net zero operational emissions and create green jobs for residents, 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 Climate Action 2050 Plan allows us to make informed decisions on reducing emissions and mitigating climate vulnerabilities in Milwaukee County,” said Milwaukee County Supervisor Anne O'Connor. “These efforts solidify Milwaukee County's commitment to climate action across our operations and communities.”

The CA50 Plan now moves into the implementation phase, where the Milwaukee County Office of Sustainability will collaborate with County departments to implement the strategies and tactics included in the plan. The Office of Sustainability has already begun conducting community listening sessions to gather input on climate risks and preferred emissions reduction strategies. Additional engagement events are planned for this summer to ensure community voices continue to shape the implementation process. 

“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 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 Economic 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.

###