The Town of Chapel Hill has long been a leader in environmental stewardship and reducing its carbon footprint. In 2006, it was the first US municipality committing to a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The town of Chapel Hill is expected to have changes in regional temperatures and precipitation in the future due to climate change. Projected changes in regional temperatures and precipitation include:

• Temperature Increase: 2-5°F (NC)

• Increase in the Number of Days >95°: 15-25 or more days per year (Piedmont Region)

• Increase in the Number of Nights >75°: 6-35 or more days per year (Piedmont Region)

•  Total annual precipitation will increase

•  Heavy rain events will become more frequent and more intense

• Both coastal and inland flooding will increase

• Severe thunderstorms will become more frequent

•  Hurricanes will be more intense and wetter

In 2019, the Town committed to 100% renewable energy by 2050 and began a climate action and response planning process with a community-wide focus on mitigating GHGs and making the community more resilient. 

Planning Communities prepared a GHG Inventory and Forecast for Chapel Hill. Then, through rigorous analysis and strategic foresight, they crafted a comprehensive Climate Action and Response Plan, meticulously outlining ambitious goals, pinpointing challenges, and charting a course for action.

Examples of results from GHG inventory

The Climate Action and Response Plan describes the climate goals and objectives, identifies challenges and opportunities, quantifies potential GHG reductions, and presents the highest impact actions the Town and community can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and respond to the effects of climate change in Chapel Hill. To ensure the efficacy of these efforts, Planning Communities delved deep into community demographics and climate vulnerabilities. This analysis informs climate actions across various domains, including buildings and energy, transportation and land use, natural resources, and resilience. By addressing these multifaceted challenges, Chapel Hill is not merely planning for the future but actively shaping it, advancing racial equity, and fostering resilience and sustainability for generations to come.

Planning Communities led online engagement and a Community Partners Summit to build a foundation for partnerships to support implementation of the Climate Action and Response Plan. The firm also provided recommendations on broad, leveraged and virtual engagement following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Climate Action and Response Plan put together by Planning Communities was adopted in April 2021 and in conjunction the Town unanimously passed a Resolution to Declare a Climate Emergency and Begin an Emergency Mobilization Effort To Help Restore a Safe Climate by Implementing the Town’s Climate Action and Response Plan.

To view the final plan please click here.