Office of Sustainability

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories

The city has an ambitious goal to reduce city government and the community's greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030 using 2008 emissions as the baseline and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. This goal is essential for an equitable, healthy, resilient and prosperous Richmond.

The Office of Sustainability conducts a Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory to measure all greenhouse gas emissions throughout the community – the impact of everyone who lives in, works in or visits Richmond. It conducts a Municipal Greenhouse Gas Inventory to measure the emissions of city government operations – from electricity consumption in city buildings to the gas used in city vehicles.

Progress toward these greenhouse gas emissions goals will be measured against the 2008 baseline inventory.

• 2014 Update
• 2015 Update

Climate Reporting

The City of Richmond measures and reports its emissions and climate action data to external organizations and this provides a number of benefits:

• Transparency to community
• Track progress
• Identify opportunities for cost savings and improved efficiency in operations
• Identify climate-related risks

CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project): CDP is a non-profit organization that provides a global disclosure system for companies, cities, states, and regions to manage their environmental impacts.

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE): ACEEE is a non-profit organization that acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments and behaviors.

Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN): USDN is a peer-to-peer network of local governments and their practitioners across the United States and Canada seeking to accelerate urban sustainability and resiliency.

Virginia Municipal League (VML) Green Government Challenge: VML hosts the annual Green Government Challenge, a friendly competition designed to encourage implementation of specific environmental policies and practical actions that reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated by both the local government and the broader community.

Climate Commitments

Mayor Levar Stoney and the City of Richmond have committed to several national and global compacts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. 

Chicago Climate Charter: Joining mayors in pledging to move forward a comprehensive climate agenda.

Climate Mayors: Joining mayors working together to demonstrate leadership on climate through meaningful actions in their communities, and to express and build political will for effective federal and global policy action.

Mayors For 100% Clean Energy: Pledging support for a community-wide transition to 100% renewable energy.

We Are Still In: Joining mayors, cities, states, companies, universities and non-profits across the world in recommitting to meet the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement.