Climate Initiatives

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​​​​​​​​​Alachua County is dedicated to being a resilient community in the face of climate changes and impacts affecting our community today and into the future. ​To accomplish this goal, the County Commission is working to adopt a Climate Action Plan in 2025.

2025 Climate Festival

Alachua County Climate Festival​

Join us Saturday, November 15th for Alachua County’s Climate Festival, a celebration of planning for the future, protecting our roots and resources, and pollinating resiliency solutions​ in the community. This event is free, open to the public, and will take place at the ​​UF/IFAS Extension Office, 22712 W Newberry Rd from 9am-3pm. ​View the flyer here and register on Eventbrite at tinyurl.com/Climate-Festival. We hope to see you there!

The Climate Festival will feature:​

  • Ceremonial acceptance of the County’s Climate Action Plan
  • Keynote by Michael Grunwald, award-winning journalist and author of the book We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate*
  • Panel discussions with municipal and local food system leaders
  • Performance by the Star Center Theater Youth
  • Exhibits from community organizations showcasing climate resiliency in action
  • Opportunity to meet and talk with authors of the Climate Action Plan and community collaborators
  • Coffee and light breakfast in the morning, food trucks in the afternoon

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*Our keynote speaker's appearance is generously sponsored by: The Bob Graham Center for Public Service; UF College of Journalism and Communications; WUFT's Environment & Ag Desk; The Florida Climate Institute; and The Rothman Family Chair in the Humanities.

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Climate Action Plan​

Climate Vulnerability Final Report 2024​

The County is releasing current drafts of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) to receive input from the public and our Citizen Climate Advisory Committee (CCAC) prior to its approval and adoption. The draft CAP posted here was released in August 2025 and includes links to the complete document and to individual sections or chapters. If you have specific comments or suggestions about the draft CAP, please share them by filling out the ​​Draft Climate Action Plan Form.​


2024 ​Climate Summit

Alachua County hosted a very well-attended Climate Summit on 11/16/24. Below are some materials from this event.


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Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Once crucial step is to understand the County’s contribution to harmful emissions. The Green​house Gas Inventory was completed in 2021 and will be updated every five years. ​
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Climate Vulnerability Analysis

The countywide climate vulnerability analysis was completed in 2024 and is a comprehensive report identifying climate change related risks and threats to Alachua County. This work aims to understand key areas of vulnerability and determine strategies for fostering resilience within the community. By proactively assessing risks and planning, Alachua County will create a more resilient and sustainable environment for its residents through effective climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.

With the completion of this work, the County and it’s nine municipalities can qualify to apply for funding from the State of Florida’s Resilient Florida Grants Program to address nuisance flooding, critical infrastructure improvements, and other climate related threats to our community. 

In addition to the Climate Vulnerability Assessment Final Report (July 2024) there are ad​ditional technical reports listed below that cover the details described in the final report.

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Joint Water and Climate Policy Board

The Joint Water and Climate Policy Board is composed of three Alachua County Commissioners, three members from the Gainesville City Commission, and one member from the outlying municipalities. The Board meets every other month to provide guidance on water issues and the challenges of climate change. The Board appoints members to the Citizen Climate Advisory Committee. View videos of past meetings here​ and find agendas at the City of Gainesville’s event calendar. For more information contact Stacie Greco at 352-264-6829.

Citizen Climate Advisory Committee (CCAC)

The CCAC is appointed by the Joint Water and Climate Policy Board (JWCPB) and provides an opportunity for citizen involvement in climate change issues and concerns affecting Alachua County, City of Gainesville, and the surrounding municipalities. The committee advises the JWCPB on bold and innovative climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, policies, and target goals. The primary task of the CCAC is to advise on the creation of a countywide Climate Action Plan that will guide policy and decision making in multiple jurisdictions. The CCAC currently meets in-person at the Grace Knight conference room on the third Monday of each month. For more information contact Jennison Kipp at jkipp@alachuacounty.us or 352-264-6823​.

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