Climate Action

The Town of Carrboro is a national leader in climate action, prioritizing strategies that increase the resilience of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, low-income and other communities disproportionately impacted by climate change.

The Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan, Carrboro’s blueprint for the future, is built on this foundation of race and equity and climate action. These themes are intentionally woven into every aspect on the plan, including affordable housing, transportation and mobility, green infrastructure, economic sustainability, and land use.

This guiding document builds upon bold action plans, starting with one of the country’s first comprehensive climate action plans which was adopted by the Town in 2009 and carrying through to the updated and re-adopted Community Climate Action Plan.

In 2024, Carrboro created a Climate Action Team within the Office of the Town Manager to accelerate progress on the Town’s climate action goals to achieve 80% reduction in community-wide and municipal greenhouse gas emissions, as compared to a 2010 baseline, by 2030.

The Town's Three Main Climate Action Objectives:

1. Reduce municipal greenhouse gas emissions by increasing energy efficiency in Town buildings, electrifying the Town fleet, and adding more renewable energy to Town facilities

2. Reduce community greenhouse gas emissions by increasing access to renewable energy and energy efficiency programs for all residents and businesses, developing programs that encourage more residents to choose more environmentally friendly transportation options and reduce waste, and adopting a Unified Development Ordinance that encourages smart, climate friendly development

3. Develop a system-wide approach to build resilience to the inevitable impacts of climate change with a focus on low-income, historically marginalized neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by urban heat islands and flooding