Madison, Wis. – Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld and the Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy (OSCE) have announced the release of the Emissions Reduction Roadmap – Actions for Sustainability in Wisconsin, the first statewide framework to address all major sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Wisconsin. The plan demonstrates a feasible way for the state to develop policies, practices, and technologies that reduce pollutant emissions, create high-quality jobs, drive economic growth, protect and preserve natural resources, improve air quality, and promote the health and well-being of Wisconsin residents.

“Wisconsin residents face multiple challenges to their health, well-being, and financial future, thanks to climate change,” said DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld. “Through state policy, community action, and private partnership, the new Emissions Reduction Roadmap can help create new jobs, improve community health, and bring energy production back to Wisconsin, securing a more sustainable future for our state.”

Developed with the input of local communities, private industry, Tribal nations, and Wisconsin residents, the Emissions Reduction Roadmap explores effective measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the following seven sectors:

  • Agriculture
  • Commercial and Residential Buildings
  • Energy Generation
  • Industrial Processes and Facilities
  • Natural and Working Lands
  • Transportation
  • Waste and Materials Management

“Everyone has a role to play in securing our sustainable future, and the OSCE developed this plan based on thoughtful discussions and extensive public input, to define actions with measurable results,” said OSCE Director Maria Redmond. “The Emissions Roadmap serves as a blueprint for moving away from ‘business as usual’ and offers a pathway for individuals, households, businesses, and government to make changes that reduce emissions and improve lives, demonstrating that Wisconsin does not have to choose between a healthy environment and a healthy economy.”

The Roadmap incorporated work from previous statewide initiatives, including the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change, the Clean Energy Plan, the State Forest Action Plan, and WisDOT transportation plans, which were reviewed or incorporated into the Emissions Roadmap to ensure alignment of included recommendations. Additionally, the OSCE worked with a broad swath of agency staff, universities, and expert advisors to determine what actions would best align with the priorities of Wisconsin residents and businesses. The result is a set of concrete actions that will reduce emissions, improve Wisconsin’s health outcomes, and increase resiliency toward economic and environmental shocks.

The OSCE was created by Governor Evers in 2019 via Executive Order #38 to lead the State of Wisconsin in addressing the effects of climate change through programs and policies that support the use of clean energy resources and technology. Also in 2019, the governor signed Executive Order #52 establishing the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change. Supported by the OSCE, the Task Force delivered recommendations to support climate emissions reductions and resiliency efforts in Wisconsin in late 2020. The OSCE is leading implementation of the state’s first-ever Clean Energy Plan, released in 2022. The Office also runs a Lead-by-Example program to encourage state agencies to adopt more sustainable practices and assess their operations for opportunities to reduce emissions.

The OSCE will be hosting a series of informational webinars later this summer on the different sectors and actions in the plan. Information on the webinars will be shared at a later date. Sign up for the Office newsletter for updates and find more information at osce.wi.gov.