Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Metrics Report 2023

To better track efforts on local programs as well as to help inform future decision making, this report offers several complementary metrics in addition to the most recent GHG inventory.   

• Read the full Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Metrics Report or view the ADA accessible version here.

Iowa City Municipal Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The City has made substantial progress since 2000 in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiencies and reducing energy costs in city operations. The goal of this report is to update the past municipal GHG inventory, completed in 2009, using updated data for the City's new benchmark. In comparing past inventories, City staff can gain understanding of trends over time to learn what has been successful, as well as understand how to interpret what efforts might be most impactful in reducing future emissions.

• Read the full Iowa City Municipal Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Consumption Based Emissions Inventory

Iowa City received a grant from the Urban Sustainability Directors Network to pilot a consumption based emissions inventory tool that has been successfully used in Vancouver, Canada. The goal of the project was to a) create a consumption based emissions inventory and an ecological footprint for Iowa City and b) to better understand if the work can be easily replicated in other U.S. cities. This inventory includes not only emissions from locally generated fossil fuel emissions, but also emissions due to consumable materials and food consumed by Iowa City residents. Cities are moving towards gathering this type of information to get a better understanding of a more accurate picture of the emissions generated from urban centers and how to make changes to lower our impact on the planet.

• Read the full Consumption Based Emissions Summary Report

The Climate in the Heartland is a report that was the result of collaboration between five Midwestern cities and climate experts from their respective states.  This project looked at historical climate data and used a variety of modeling techniques to get an accurate projection of future climate projections for each location. The goal of this work was to assist participating cities as they prepare for climate change impact so they can adapt their operations to better serve citizens in a changing environment.

• Read the 2015 Climate in the Heartland Report

The Eastern Iowa EVRP is a collective effort that Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls/Waterloo, Dubuque, Davenport, and the regional metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) have established toward the goal of increasing zero-emission vehicle adoption while ensuring the mobility needs of the region and the target carbon emissions reductions are met equitably.

• Read the 2021 Eastern Iowa Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan