Climate Action KC outlines building-focused strategy, offers local support to Leawood

Climate Action KC managing director Emily Randall told the Leawood governing body on Jan. 21 that the nonprofit is convening cities in the Kansas City region to advance a regional climate action plan and local implementation tools.

Randall said the Mid-America Regional Council–backed regional inventory attributes about 63% of regional greenhouse-gas emissions to buildings and roughly 34% to transportation, and urged local officials to focus action where it will have the most effect. “We really want to focus in where it counts and where we’ll be able to be positioned to make the biggest difference,” Randall said.

Randall described Climate Action KC as a convener and technical resource that created a Climate Action Playbook and a regional Climate Action Plan. She highlighted the group’s Building Energy Exchange, which provides developer-focused technical help, and Plug in KC, a consumer and construction-focused electric-equipment and electric-vehicle information resource produced in partnership with Evergy.

Randall invited Leawood officials and staff to participate in regional coordination and promoted the organization’s Climate Action Summit on April 5 at Unity Temple on the Plaza. “We will be hearing an update on the regional greenhouse gas inventory, as well as having a keynote speaker,” she said.

Council members thanked Randall and took no formal action. Randall urged staff and council members to share local projects and contact Climate Action KC for support with implementation and funding tools.

The presentation did not include any binding commitments by the city.