City council adopts ordinance to create Climate Action Committee

The Milwaukee City Council voted unanimously July 17 to adopt an ordinance creating a Climate Action Committee to advise staff and the council on climate policy and community outreach.

Katie Guevara, the city staff presenter, said the committee will monitor and help update the city’s 2019 Climate Action Plan, support outreach and help staff prepare for a planned 2026 update of greenhouse gas inventories and strategies. She said the city revised earlier staffing proposals after council feedback and is now proposing seven community members with the option to include up to two youth members.

"It's a way to have an accountable and responsive team to help implement the climate action plan," Guevara said. She told council the committee would provide policy recommendations and help with public engagement, and that staff expect to recruit members in September and October with the committee launching in January 2026.

Public works director Peter Pasquale told council the update would focus on both mitigation and adaptation measures and suggested the committee could help identify adaptive strategies that should be included in an updated plan. Council members pressed staff on the likely workload and staffing needed to update the plan and on guardrails for preserving previously adopted climate goals. Guevara said the update aims to revise strategies and reflect regulatory and data changes since 2019 rather than reduce the city’s targets.

The council approved the ordinance by roll-call vote; Council President Anderson, Councilors Stavenjord, Cozra Boddi, Massey and Mayor Beatty recorded aye votes and the ordinance was declared passed 5–0. Miss Sager read the ordinance title aloud three times, and the clerk polled the council.