Kalamazoo County previewed draft Climate Action Plan and invited public comment

Taylor Van Winkle, Kalamazoo County’s climate sustainability manager, presented the county’s draft Climate Action Plan to the Board of Commissioners on June 16, outlining goals, strategies and the public engagement process.

Van Winkle said the plan, funded by a 2023 grant, sets six overarching goals including achieving countywide carbon neutrality by 2050 with a 52% reduction from 2005 levels by 2030, and pursuing zero municipal waste and increased recycling. She described 30 strategies grouped into four topic areas (housing and the built environment; energy and infrastructure; natural systems; food and agriculture) and 85 discrete actions that break those strategies into measurable steps.

The presentation emphasized stakeholder input: Van Winkle said nearly 700 residents participated in in-person and digital engagement in 2024 and that an environmental justice screening and a climate vulnerability assessment supplement the plan. She noted several early implementation projects — native plantings along drain easements, a regenerative agriculture incubator pilot, community garden organizing and composting workshops — established with grant funding before plan adoption to test delivery models.

Commissioners asked about survey design and appendices containing public-survey results; Van Winkle replied that survey results and appendices are included as supplemental material and that a public-input page accepting comments online will remain open through July 6, 2026. Commissioners also pressed on partner coordination; Van Winkle said the plan identifies county departments, local municipalities and community organizations for collaboration and that implementation work is already underway with drainage, conservation and college partners.

Van Winkle told the board the plan’s actions are categorized by mitigation, adaptation and resiliency intent and that staff expect to return a revised final plan for adoption after the comment period.