Reports & Documents

On June 17, 2019, Columbia City council passed the Climate Action & Adaptation Plan by Policy Resolution. View greenhouse gas emission inventories, climate impact research and current efforts for reducing climate pollution in Columbia.

Visit our Climate Action & Adaptation Plan Website to learn more about our plan and efforts.

Subscribe for updates on the Climate Action & Adaptation Plan process.

opens in a new window Climate Action & Adaptation Plan opens PDF file
Climate Action & Adaptation Plan
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2022 Climate Action Plan Annual Report
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2022 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories

Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are tracked in accordance with the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories, the standard that most cities use for GHG emissions tracking. The inventory identifies both the quantity and sources of GHG emissions produced from activities within the City of Columbia. This data is made available to the public in order to assist informed decision-making to determine future actions to be taken by the community. These emissions-reducing actions were included in Columbia’s first Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.

To learn more about how we calculate emissions, see our GHG Inventory Methodsopens PDF file document. For details on how we’ve improved our data since our 2015 baseline year, see our Updates to Community GHG Inventoriesopens PDF file document. For the most up-to-date data, visit our dashboard on our home page.

2022 GHG Inventory Reportopens PDF file

The 2022 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report includes both the community and municipal reports. 

Previous Years’ Reports:

Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory Reports

Municipal Greenhouse Gas Inventory Reports

Climate Trends & Vulnerabilities for CoMo

Chart showing different levels of vulnerabilities for ColumbiaClimate Trends and Vulnerabilities for Columbia, Missouri

As the climate continues to change,  communities across the U.S. and the world are asking “How are these changes already affecting my community?” and “What local impacts could be experienced from future changes to the climate?”. To help answer these questions, communities use a tool called a vulnerability assessment . A consultant team reviewed the best scientific information available about changes in temperature, precipitation, and other climate-related factors that Columbia may experience; those findings are available in the climate trends summary.opens PDF file That information was then applied to Columbia’s unique social, economic, and environmental context with inputs from City staff and the Mayor’s Task Force. Vulnerability rankings are based on this analysis, taking into account three key factors in relation to anticipated climate change impacts:

  1. Exposure: the number of people and value of assets in harm’s way or at risk due to their physical location.
  2. Sensitivity: the severity of consequences of being exposed to these risks and the degree to which climate change exacerbated existing stressors.
  3. Adaptive capacity: steps the City and community are already taking to prepare for climate change impacts and whether they have existing capacity to accelerate and/or expand those efforts, if needed.

This overview summarizes the findings of the vulnerability assessmentopens PDF file . More detailed information about each focus area is provided in a series of four supplementary fact sheets.

VA: Health, Safety and Well-beingopens PDF file
VA: Built Environment- Housing, Transportation and Stormwater Mgmtopens PDF file
VA: Water Supply and Qualityopens PDF file
VA: Open Space and Agricultureopens PDF file  

Milestones of Climate Action & Adaptation Plan

Frequently Asked Questionsopens PDF file

 

Milestones of Climate Action & Adaptation Plan

On June 17, 2017, Columbia City council passed Resolution R-83-17A, reaffirming the commitment of the City of Columbia to take action to reduce climate pollution; authorizing participation in the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy and taking steps to create a Climate Action Plan.

On November 20, 2017, Columbia City Council approved a professional services agreement with Cascadia Consulting Group to facilitate the development of Columbia’s Climate Action & Adaptation Plan. View the professional services agreementopens PDF file or the  City Council meeting discussion (at 2:00:52)

December 4, 2017 – Office of Sustainability staff gave a presentation on the process for the Climate Action & Adaptation Plan. View the Climate Action & Adaptation Plan presentation slidesopens PDF file . Meeting minutes will be posted once available. 

December 18, 2017 – Columbia City Council adopted Resolution R-184-17, establishing a Mayor’s Task Force on Climate Action & Adaptation Planning. Interested participants are encouraged to contact their Council representative to express interest in serving on the task force. Appointments will be made by Mayor Treece in January 2018.

February 5, 2018 – Mayor Treece appointed members to the Mayor’s Task Force on Climate Action and Adaptation Planning.  A list of members and meeting agendas and minutes can be found here.

May 22, 2018 – Mayor’s Task Force on Climate Action and Adaptation Planning hosted a community workshop at the ARC. 

June 4, 2018 – City Staff and members of the Mayor’s Task Force on Climate Action and Adaptation Planning presented an update to Columbia City Council at their work session. This presentation reviewed the climate trends and vulnerabilities for Columbia. It also introduced proposed emission reductions goals.

August 20, 2018 – Columbia City Council adopted Resolution R-130-18 – Adopting goals for the reduction of community and municipal carbon emissions through local policies, services and practices.

October 2018 – Community survey on potential actions results in over 900 responses. Here is a summary of the Community Surveyopens PDF file

  • Eighty-four percent of respondents agree or strongly agree with the statement “It is important for Columbia to take immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy use and land use.”
  • Eighty-seven percent of respondents agree or strongly agree with the statement “It is important for Columbia to take action to prepare for and manage the projected impacts of climate change.” 
  • Eighty-three percent of respondents agree or strongly agree with the statement “Columbia should be a leader when it comes to proactively addressing climate change.”

November 28, 2018 – Over 200 community members gathered at City Hall to review and voice support for investing in different proposed action of the developing plan. 

January 7, 2019 – Office of Sustainability staff gave an update on the CAAP to Columbia City Council at their worksession. The slides can be found here.opens PDF file

April 22, 2019 – Members from the Mayor’s Task Force on Climate Action & Adaptation Planning presented to community members an overview of the draft CAAP at Daniel Boone Regional Library.

May 20, 2019 – Office of Sustainability staff and members from the Mayor’s Task Force on Climate Action & Adaptation Plan presented to Columbia City Council an overview of the draft CAAP and the feedback received, to date. The The slides to the presentation can be found here.opens PDF file

June 17, 2019 – CAAP Reportopens PDF file  was adopted by Policy Resolution 89-19 by Columbia City Council.

November 14, 2022 – Columbia Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) Annual Report – 2022opens PDF file

Additional Resources

Climate in the Heartland report – The goal of this report is to assist cities as they prepare for climate change impacts, adapting their operations to better serve citizens in a changing environment. Historical climate data and future climate projections inform municipal staff and elected officials of weather conditions that are anticipated to exceed historical bounds. 

historic temperature and future projectionsopens IMAGE file – Graph showing historic temperature and future projections for Columbia, Missouri

Graph showing historic precipitation and future projectionsopens IMAGE file