Climate Action Work Plan

Red Wing Climate Action Work Plan (2020 - 2025) (pdf)

One of the goals identified in the Red Wing 2040 Community Plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the city by 80% on or before 2040. The Red Wing Climate Action Work Plan (2020 - 2025) was developed to support the city in efforts to reach this goal, advance climate action, demonstrate progress over the next five years, and to prepare the city for the years to follow. 

The Red Wing Sustainability Commission, working with Great Plains Institute, developed the five-year work plan that was adopted by City Council in August 2020. Building upon the many years of environmental and conservation leadership of the City of Red Wing, the plan leverages existing community efforts, including Green Wing Energy Action Plan, its participation in MN GreenStep Cities, SolSmart programs, and foundational documents such as the RW 2040 and the 2019 Strategic Plan.

There are three main sections of the Climate Action Work Plan (pdf): the existing conditions report, the greenhouse gas inventory, and the five-year work plan. The plan focuses on five strategies to reduce emissions across building energy use, transportation, and waste. Implementing this work plan aims to reduce community-wide emissions by 9% over the next five years. When combined with the impact of Xcel Energy's changing electricity grid mix and ongoing code enforcement for new construction, the reduction totals 21%. Additionally, many of the strategies outlined in the plan also have co-benefits that can positively impact the economic, physical, and environmental health of the community.