Roanoke Council Has Called For 'Emergency Action' On Global Warming. So Why Is the City's Climate Plan Still Out of Date?

Roanoke City is in the process of updating its climate action plan, which spells out goals related to sustainability, greenhouse gas emission reductions and renewable energy. PHOTO BY HENRI GENDREAU FOR THE ROANOKE RAMBLER

Roanoke’s City Council last fall declared the need for “emergency action” locally to stave off the worst of the climate crisis.

But it’s expected to take the city at least until next spring to update its master climate action plan, which expired at the end of 2019.

The pandemic, the roll-out of a new plastic bag fee and the recent retirement of the city’s sole sustainability leader conspired to delay revision to Roanoke’s chief climate document, according to current and former city officials.