Northeast Ohio Climate Action Plan open for comment

Northeast Ohio leaders are trying to reduce climate pollution (greenhouse gas emissions) to net zero by 2050. They’re working on a plan to achieve this goal in the next 25 years. 

Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) and the City of Cleveland’s Office of Sustainability and Climate Justice have recently completed a draft Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) for the Cleveland-Elyria Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and are currently seeking public comment on the plan through August 31. 

Building a plan

The Cleveland-Elyria MSA covers 164 cities, villages, and townships within Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties. The population in the Cleveland-Elyria MSA was 2,079,759 in 2022. This area is the 29th most populous metropolitan area in the United States and the largest metro in Ohio.

The Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) includes a discussion of how the climate is already changing in the region and the expected changes through 2050, such as more extreme heat, extreme rain, and summer droughts. These changes in weather patterns will put stress on existing infrastructure and disproportionately affect lower-income individuals who often do not have access to air conditioning. The plan also includes a review of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by sector and the measures the MSA can take to reduce emissions by 2050. 

NOACA and the City of Cleveland are holding a virtual public meeting about the CAPP on August 21, 2025, at 12 p.m. to raise awareness of the plan. Participants will be able to ask questions via a live Q&A platform. 

Regional climate action priorities are set up in the CAPP. They include clean energy, building efficiency and electrification, green steel production, vehicle miles traveled reduction, light duty vehicle electrification, heavy duty vehicle electrification, refrigerant capture, solid waste diversion and nature-based solutions. 

While the CCAP identifies more than 60 emissions reduction measures, there are six “Go Big Strategies” that will have a significant positive economic impact and growth as well as greatly reduce the impact from the changing climate on the region while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions produced within the MSA. These “Go Big Strategies” include:

1. Expanding Nuclear Generation at Perry Nuclear Power Plant 

2. Developing Offshore Wind on Lake Erie 

3. Net Zero Steelmaking at Cleveland-Cliffs 

4. Expanding Passenger Rail and Light-Rail Service 

5. Developing a Regional Direct Air Capture (DAC) Facility to remove carbon from the atmosphere. 

6. Implementing a “Headwaters Forests Initiative” to reforest 10 square miles of the region’s headwaters

People moving within the region produce the greatest greenhouse gases, while the energy people use in their homes is the second highest producer. The CCAP reports greenhouse gas emissions by sector in this order: Transportation (29%), Residential Energy (23%), Commercial Energy (16%), Industrial Energy (16%), Process & Fugitive Emissions (6%), Solid Waste (5%), HFCs (Refrigerants) (4%), Agriculture (0.8%), and Water & Wastewater (0.5%). 

The CCAP states: “While climate pollutants (greenhouse gases) like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) have long been a part of our atmosphere, current levels are much higher than at any point in human history. This extra carbon is acting like a blanket, warming the planet more than in the past. Temperatures are already rising: 2023 and 2024 were the hottest years on record…If the planet warms by more than 1.5°C from historical levels, this extra warmth will upset many systems that we rely on, threatening our food and water supplies and leading to extreme weather events and other risks.” 

The region has seen more extreme heat and rainfall over the past few years, while still experiencing extreme cold in the winter. Additionally, the region can be affected by extreme events from other areas, such as the wildfire smoke events of June 2023. Acting to both reduce the region’s emissions and help the MSA become more resilient will benefit everyone. 

Individuals are encouraged to connect with their local city or town government to review the CAAP and see how they can get involved. Many municipalities within the MSA already have individual greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. The more communities that step up with climate action plans and goals, the better, officials said. 

Cleveland and the surrounding areas may have once been known for the Cuyahoga River burning, but the regional leaders say they’re committed to sustainability. Indeed, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb was recently named co-chair of American is All In with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Formerly, Bibb also served as the Chair of Climate Mayors, a nonpartisan, national organization of nearly 350 mayors committed to climate leadership. In January, Cleveland released its 2024 Impact Report, where Bibb stated that the city is reaffirming its commitment to ensuring the city runs on 100% renewable and clean energy by 2050. In 2024, the city updated both its Climate Action Plan (CAP) and Municipal Action Plan (MAP), emphasizing equity, resilience, and community engagement.

City officials did not respond to multiple requests for comment on this story.

The general public is encouraged to read the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, Implementation Playbook, and Technical Appendices on NOACA’s website. A form is available to provide feedback on that page. Interested parties can also provide comments via email to noaca@mpo.noaca.org or phone at 216-241-2414, ext. 303. Written communication can be sent to NOACA, Attention: CCAP Comments, 1299 Superior Avenue E, Cleveland, OH 44114