Bolstering Regional Efforts to Mitigate and Adapt to the Impacts of Climate Change

The Metropolitan Council Climate Action Plan

Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA

The Metropolitan Council recently selected Buro Happold to support the creation of its Climate Action Plan to respond to and plan for an increase in climate-related threats in the Twin Cities metropolitan region.

As the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for 181 cities and townships and seven counties in the Twin Cities region, with more than half the state’s population, the Council is uniquely situated to bolster regional efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

The Council is positioned to leverage economies of scale and add value through transboundary coordination and collaboration on climate change issues. With the Climate Action Plan, the Council is looking for pathways to dramatically reduce operational GHG emissions, leverage existing programs and policies, and develop new strategies to decarbonize enterprise operations and enhance regional planning.

Positioned to leverage economies of scale and add value through transboundary coordination and collaboration on climate change issues.

Develop new strategies to decarbonize enterprise<br>operations and enhance regional planning.

Will set a path forward to adapt to challenges and improve the resilience of its built infrastructure.

Challenge

Key to the success of our work will be coordinating across such a large jurisdiction and region. Given its role of providing regional services across the seven counties, the Metropolitan Council is responsible for numerous facilities and services that will be critical to align with meaningful and long-lasting climate action and resilience planning. These include 640 miles of interceptor sewers and 9 wastewater treatment plants that treat more than 250 million gallons of wastewater a day, and transit services that provided nearly 92 million rides in 2019.

Solution

Our approach will help streamline climate action and adaptation planning efforts for the Council across its five divisions. We will create a standardized communication plan between the Council and the consultant team, ensuring that communication is consistent, timely, and effective throughout the project. We will work with the Council, across its various divisions, to collaborate on the development of the first organization-wide Climate Action Plan. The team will provide technical assistance and expertise on goal and policy creation, implementation strategies, and evaluation components. This work will include coordination with internal teams and stakeholders, including working with the communication team to develop clear key messages to these groups.

Value

The plan will set us on a path toward overcoming barriers to improve the resilience of regional infrastructure while centering environmental justice in policy development and action planning. The plan offers an opportunity to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, and protect and enhance the region’s economy, transportation and wastewater infrastructure, natural environment, public health, social equity, and quality of life.