CLIMATE & EMISSIONS

	Click to view the current Work Plan

Thanks to our forward-looking, pragmatic, and effective approach, Knoxville is a regional and national leader in sustainability. Since our first Energy & Sustainability work plan, the City has worked to save money through efficient operations, increased renewable energy capacity, improved public services, and invested in energy efficiency for homes and businesses. 

The City of Knoxville is committed to doing our part to fight climate change. We’ve tracked greenhouse gas emissions since 2005 and set ambitious climate goals to ensure a sustainable future that protects our environment while also creating economic opportunities and improving quality of life for all our citizens. In 2020, Mayor Indya Kincannon convened over 65 community leaders and technical experts as the Mayor’s Climate Council to identify climate strategies that work for Knoxville. 

Learn more: 
→ Climate Goals
→ Mayor’s Climate Council
→ Greenhouse Gas Emissions


FOCUS AREAS

The Office of Sustainability focuses on the major areas of emissions throughout the city. Based on our greenhouse gas inventories, we prioritize projects and initiatives to drive down emissions both within City operations and throughout the community as a whole.

Learn more:

CLIMATE

CLEAN ENERGY

TRANSPORTATION

BUILDINGS

WASTE

HISTORY

For more than a decade, the City of Knoxville has worked to make Knoxville a greener, more sustainable city – one where the economy, environment, and community can thrive today and in the future. 

Since the City’s first Energy & Sustainability initiatives, we and community partners have worked to establish Knoxville as a regional and national leader in sustainability. In 2008, the City set its first goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for both municipal operations and the community.  In 2011, we adopted the first Energy & Sustainability Work Plan as the guiding document to lower emissions and combat climate change. Those foundational discussions shaped Knoxville’s trajectory for much of the past decade. 

Learn more about the City’s history of sustainability and our current work plan here.


COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Mayor Kincannon and the Office of Sustainability prioritize engaging the community and building a culture of openness and transparency. By understanding community priorities and perspectives and by communicating openly about municipal initiatives, we will be more effective at implementing a sustainability program that reflects the values of Knoxville’s citizens and businesses.

We want to hear from you! Take our Community Involvement Energy & Sustainability Survey.