Planning Communities is working with Central Pines Regional Council (CPRC) to support outreach and engagement for regional climate action planning under a $1 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG), funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) was developed and delivered to EPA on March 1, 2024, and a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) will be developed throughout 2024 to be submitted by mid-2025. The aim of the plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution across the region. The work will span a time frame of 4 years, from 2023-2027. Central Pines Regional Council has chosen to cover both the Raleigh-Cary MSA and the Durham-Chapel Hill MSA in the planning process. The region will also be eligible to apply this spring for additional funding available through CPRG Implementation Grants from EPA for implementation of actions that are included in the PCAP. Ultimately, with the help from Planning Communities the process will produce a concrete list of tactics to reduce climate pollution across the region.

Planning Communities is leading outreach andcommunity engagement for the grant. Planning Communities outreach strategy is working to

1. Create a shared understanding of climate conditions, risks, and opportunities

2. Prioritize equitable engagement and underserved communities

3. Identify implementable climate and community solutions

4. Build lasting collaborative regional climate action capacity

Part of this effort has included establishing a Core CBO Partnership to build a coalition around climate action for beyond the timeframe of the grant. This included CBO training and networking workshops and development of a web-based CBO Toolkit to support ongoing engagement and creating two-way communication opportunities between CPRC and community members around climate action in the region. Coordination with CBOs and community organizers will ensure these targeted groups will be reached and that they inform the solutions identification, prioritization, and implementation for both the PCAP and CCAP.  Planning Communities also created a survey to get responses from the community to inform the PCAP priorities and the survey was shared both virtually and at a series of four in-person open house Community Climate Conversations.