Harris County commissioners approved the county’s Climate Justice Plan in early April, a community-driven, comprehensive countywide strategic plan that addresses climate change and combines actionable county-led initiatives across five categories: ecology, infrastructure, economy, community and culture.

The overview

The approved Climate Justice Plan comes after two years of efforts within the county’s sustainability office, the nonprofit Coalition for Environment, Equity and Resilience, and various community meetings. Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said the plan is Harris County’s ‘boldest step in tackling the urgent and complex challenge of climate change.’

“It is the culmination of a two-year collaborative effort led by the Office of Sustainability and CEER, with input from hundreds of residents, a 15-member Advisory Collaborative, county departments and commissioners court offices,” Ellis said. “It represents a true partnership between the government and the community.”

Throughout the plan, various initiatives’ first plan of action requires external funding partners. Specific costs for implementation are not yet known, according to county documents, and will require state, federal and philanthropic grants.

Zooming out

The move comes after Harris County commissioners passed the motion April 10 with a 3-1 vote. Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey dissented, stating that the climate justice plan was a good starting point, but needed more work.

Countywide initiatives include:

• Ecology: The plan proposes expanding pollution enforcement to protect clean air and water.
• Infrastructure: The plan emphasizes flood resilience through proactive watershed management.

“By investing in renewable energy, energy efficiency and green infrastructure, we also invest in economic opportunities that will sustain families and strengthen our local economy,” Ellis said.

Going forward

Commissioners also directed members of the county’s Office of Sustainability department to further identify other cost-effective actions that would be considered during the next budget process, fiscal year 2025-26. More details about the plan can be found online here: Climate Justice Plan.