Houston, TX
The Harris County Climate Justice Plan is a comprehensive, community-driven blueprint for climate resilience adopted in April 2025 by the third-largest county in the United States, the first county-level plan in the country. Developed over three years through collaboration between Harris County’s Office of Sustainability, the Coalition for Environment, Equity, and Resilience (CEER), and more than 340 residents. The plan prioritizes equity by centering the needs of frontline communities—particularly Black and Latino residents. It addresses five interconnected areas: Ecology (parks, green spaces, and watershed management to reduce heat and flooding), Infrastructure (community microgrids, solar backup, and resilient energy systems, especially for neighborhoods that frequently lose power), Economy (direct cash assistance, local food production, job training, and affordable housing), Community (housing as a human right, transparent decision-making, and strong health services), and Culture (preserving community identity and knowledge while building resilience). The plan emphasizes prevention over disaster response—saving $6 for every $1 invested in mitigation—and is designed for co-implementation between county government and community partners, with phased rollout already beginning through the county’s budget process. Read the plan at: https://climatejusticehc.carrd.co