City Council Climate Action Plan Discussion – March 10, 2026

On March 10, 2026, at 1:30 PM in Council Chambers, Pittsburgh City Council held a post-agenda discussion on the Climate Action Plan (CAP) 3.0. The meeting was convened by Council Member Erika Strassburger and featured presentations from Ivette Mongalo-Winston, Director of the Department of City Planning, and Flore Marion, Assistant Director of Sustainability & Resilience. The session provided an update on the city’s climate progress, ongoing projects, and next steps toward a CAP 4.0. Council Member Barbara Warwick also participated in the discussion.

Discussion Items

• Climate Action Plan 3.0 Overview: Flore Marion presented the CAP 3.0, adopted in 2018, which organizes goals into seven chapters: greenhouse gas inventory, energy, building efficiency, transportation and land use, waste, food and urban agriculture, and ecosystem. Key targets include a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030, 100% clean electricity by 2030, 50% reduction in energy and water consumption by 2030, 50% reduction in on-road transportation emissions, zero waste to landfill by 2030 (defined as 90% reduction), and increased carbon sequestration.

• Climate Change Impacts in Pittsburgh: Marion highlighted that precipitation is 30% more intense than in the 1970s, temperatures have risen 3.4°F, and there are 17 fewer freezing nights per year. The number of tornadoes and flood events has increased, and landslide repair costs have risen. She noted that 41% of Americans are very concerned about environmental issues, and public support for climate action is higher than policymakers perceive.

• Progress on Energy and Buildings: The city has switched to LED streetlights, replacing 35,000 fixtures, with an estimated $1 million annual savings once completed. The Medic 4 building is the first to comply with the net-zero ready ordinance. Over half of the city’s electricity came from clean energy in 2024 through a consortium bulk-purchasing program. Solar panels are being investigated for city facilities, including a ground-mounted project at the forestry division (129% of site consumption).

• Transportation and EV Infrastructure: 12,000 EVs are registered in Pittsburgh, with a 40% increase in ownership since 2024. The city is deploying 100 EV chargers at 21 sites, pending federal grant resolution. A study with RMI and Bike Pittsburgh identified e-bike charging stations near multifamily buildings. Council Member Warwick expressed concern about the sustainability of POGO bikes after AHN announced it would pull support, and emphasized the need for expanded bike infrastructure and better transit coordination with PRT.

• Waste and Composting: A composting pilot concluded, and the city created an ITQ to pre-qualify local composters. A vendor sustainability pilot with Clupify (formerly PGH Lab startup) evaluated ESG practices. Updates to the city’s sustainable event guide were developed with the Plastic Collaborative.

• Food and Urban Agriculture: The adopt-a-lot program was revamped, expanding approved garden elements and extending lease terms. Pittsburgh has three city farmers advancing local food access.

• Ecosystem and Green Infrastructure: A data-driven tree planting program planted 148 trees in a pilot site, winning a Smart City Award. The city released 7,000 vacant parcels to the market and preserved 3,000 for greenways. A green infrastructure framework was developed with the Waternow Alliance, now being piloted in Lincoln-Lemington.

• Comprehensive Plan and CAP 4.0 Timeline: Director Mongalo-Winston stated that the comprehensive plan will lay the groundwork for CAP 4.0, with a target to launch the update in spring/summer 2026, complete by late summer/early fall. Annual updates on the CAP are intended going forward. The team will leverage public engagement data from the comprehensive plan.

• Home Energy Scores and Building Retrofits: Council Member Warwick raised the idea of a home energy score for home sales. Marion supported transparency, noting the EPA tool is used in other cities. For city-owned buildings, a 2019 study found that 15 buildings per year needed retrofitting to meet the 2030 energy goal; COVID derailed progress. Marion suggested using the state’s Guaranteed Energy Savings Act (GESA) for the City-County Building, which could fund retrofits without upfront taxpayer money.

• Costs of Inaction and Utility Relief: Council Member Strassburger asked for quantified costs of climate inaction (e.g., flooding, landslides). Marion agreed to provide more data. On reducing utility costs for residents, Strassburger suggested the city take a stronger role at the PUC and promote free energy audits from Duquesne Light.

• Equity and Engagement: The tree planting and green infrastructure projects prioritize vulnerable communities through data-driven selection and community input to identify precise locations.

Key Outcomes

• Commitment to Annual Updates: Council Member Strassburger and Director Mongalo-Winston reaffirmed the intention to hold annual post-agenda hearings on the Climate Action Plan, moving forward with CAP 4.0 after the comprehensive plan is completed.
• Pending Legislation: The team will bring forward legislation on greenways and stormwater code updates later in 2026.
• Ongoing Federal Grant Uncertainty: The EV charger deployment and solar panel projects are on hold due to paused federal funding; the city is awaiting resolution through the courts.
• Data Improvements: The city gained access to Clearview 2.0 for annual GHG inventory reporting and is working to obtain data from gas utilities, requesting council assistance to improve data access.
• Workforce Development Potential: Council Member Strassburger noted opportunities to pair building retrofits with workforce development training for energy efficiency trades.
• Next Steps for CAP 4.0: The city will continue research, engagement, and project implementation, with an RFP for a zero waste and compost plan currently open. The team will also pursue thermal imaging of neighborhoods via drones through the PGH Lab program.