Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our office is open to visitors by appointment only. Please call or email from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
703-324-7136 TTY 711
12000 Government Center Pkwy, Suite 533
Fairfax, VA 22035
John Morrill
Director

Department Resources

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The Community-Wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP)

Greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, trap the sun's radiation and warm the Earth's surface - which leads to cascading effects on the climate. To lessen the impacts to human health and the environment, Fairfax County has adopted ambitious climate action goals, including energy carbon neutrality across Fairfax County government operations by 2040 and community-wide carbon neutrality by 2050, as outlined in the CECAP, the Community-Wide Energy and Climate Action Plan.

CECAP is a community-driven greenhouse gas emission reduction plan that seeks to involve everyone across the county, from residents and visitors to business and community groups.  CECAP focuses on addressing the cause of climate change through emissions reduction. The county’s other climate plan, Resilient Fairfax, helps Fairfax County adapt and become more resilient to changing climate-related conditions such as extreme heat, severe storms, and flooding. Resilient Fairfax focuses on handling the effects of climate change. View our factsheet on the difference between the two plans. 

For metrics and data on our progress in implementing these climate action plans, please see the Climate Action Dashboard. 

Watch this video to learn how Fairfax County’s Supervisors are leading the way to a Carbon-Free Fairfax — by walking and biking, driving electric and hybrid vehicles, growing their own fruits and vegetables, composting their food waste, and recycling their trash — and see the sections below for more information about CECAP.

CECAP Overview

Looking for an easy way to understand the Community-Wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP)? Click below to view an overview of Fairfax County's community-driven greenhouse gas emission reduction plan in a presentation format.

EXPLORE THE PRESENTATION

Climate Action Checklists

climate action checklist graphicLooking for ways to take action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions? These helpful checklists focus on actions everyone can take to reduce emissions.

Climate Action Viewer

climate action viewer screenshotThe Climate Action Viewer interactive map tool shows actions taken by both the community and Fairfax County Government to help address the cause of climate change, shown in spatial data.

The CECAP Implementation Plan, presented to the Board of Supervisors on December 13, 2022, describes how the recommended activities of the CECAP report should be implemented. This plan describes in detail the actionable steps to be taken by individuals, businesses, organizations, federal and state governments, and Fairfax County Government in order to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Fairfax County. 

View or Download the CECAP Implementation Plan
View or Download Appendix A
View or Download Appendix B

CECAP was developed through a community planning process that occurred between January 2020 and June 2021. The final CECAP report was accepted by the Board of Supervisors on September 14, 2021. The report includes detailed information about the planning process and outlines the community's emission reduction goals, along with 12 strategies across five sectors – buildings and energy, energy supply, transportation, waste, and natural resources. It also includes and actions individuals, businesses, and other county stakeholders can take to help achieve carbon neutrality. 

View or Download the Final Report

There are many things you can do to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. On our Resources for Residents page, you will find a variety of resources that will help you understand the impact of climate change and what you can do to help combat it. From videos about real Fairfax County residents to checklists with simple climate actions you can take in your daily life, we have information that will help you save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

When climate planning is designed equitably, everyone benefits, which can lead to stronger economic growth and a thriving community. As part of the One Fairfax policy, which commits Fairfax County and Fairfax County Public Schools to intentionally consider equity when delivering policies, programs and services, CECAP includes equity considerations in the following ways:

  1. During the planning process (January 2020 – July 2021):  CECAP was developed by the community, for the community, with a focus on energy conservation and climate action for all. A diverse set of community stakeholders involved in developing the plan were organized into a CECAP Working Group and an initial set of task force teams across supervisor districts. Working Group and Task Force members are listed on page 3 of the CECAP report. Equity was assessed throughout the planning process including development of sectors, strategies, and implementation actions for reducing emissions. The CECAP Working Group used equity considerations as one of the prioritization criteria for determining which sectors, strategies, and implementation actions to recommend for immediate action in the plan. 
  2. In the CECAP emission reduction goals: The CECAP Working Group, as well as staff and county leadership, are very aware of the inequitable resources available for all members of the community to take climate related action to reduce emissions. CECAP is a countywide plan, and must meet the needs of all community residents, visitors, and businesses.  To that end, the CECAP Working Group considered the equity implications of each of the plan goals and related implementation actions. Many of the sector-based goals have a consideration for how all members of the community could be included. The Natural Resources sector-based goal, in particular, calls for areas of socioeconomic need to be prioritized when deciding where trees are to be planted. 
  3. During CECAP implementation (Ongoing): As with the planning process, equity considerations happen as implementation strategies are developed. In particular, community facing programs like HomeWise, Energy Conservation Assistance Program, and Charge Up Fairfax include resources and incentives that further support low- to moderate-income families and communities identified as being in a high or very high vulnerability area using the Fairfax County Vulnerability Index. The federal government’s Justice40 map is also used to verify if a community is an area classified as disadvantaged. In addition, resources for residents like the Climate Action Checklist were developed with guidance on what actions could be taken for a range of resident needs, including actions that are no- or low- cost, or for rental properties. Materials are also provided in the top 5 languages spoken in Fairfax County for individuals with limited English proficiency. Implementation is done through coordination with many county agencies, all of which are focused on equity through the One Fairfax policy, ensuring that all residents have a part to play in implementation of CECAP.  
     

CECAP is built around a series of goals, including the overarching goal of achieving carbon neutrality within our community by 2050. Carbon neutrality refers to having the same amount of carbon emissions removed or absorbed as is released. Additionally, the report includes interim emission reduction goals for 2030 (50% reduction) and 2040 (75% reduction), and sector-specific goals. 

The sector specific goals are:

  • Ensure all new, eligible buildings in the county will have a commitment to green building standards.
  • Retrofit at least 100,000 housing units with energy efficiency measures by 2030.
  • Increase transit and non-motorized commuting to 30 percent (including teleworking) by 2030.
  • Increase plug-in electric hybrid vehicles and battery electric vehicles to at least 15 percent of all light-duty vehicle registrations by 2030.
  • Expand the tree canopy to 60 percent with a minimum of 40 percent tree canopy coverage in every census block by 2030 and a minimum of 50 percent tree canopy coverage in every census block by 2050, prioritizing areas of highest socioeconomic need first.
  • Achieve zero waste by 2040, defined as at least 90 percent waste diverted from landfill/incineration, in alignment with the definition by the Zero Waste International Alliance

You can track our progress through our Overall Emissions Metrics and sector specific metrics (Buildings, Energy Supply, Transportation, Waste, Natural Resources, and Community Services) on our Climate Action Dashboard, as well as our most recent Climate Progress Report.

Emission Reduction Metrics

Fairfax County has adopted ambitious climate action goals for both emissions reduction (addressing the cause of climate change) and resiliency (addressing the effects of climate change). Check out the Climate Action Dashboard for climate data and metrics, including data associated with CECAP.

Explore Overall Emissions Reduction Metrics

Climate Plans, Policies, and Initiatives

Fairfax County has enacted significant plans, policies and initiatives to address the causes and effects of climate change and advance environmentally sound and energy efficient activities in county operations and beyond. From plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resiliency community-wide to a sweeping environmental vision that addresses the conservation and protection of natural resources, these plans and policies help to define a sustainable future for all residents.

Learn More about Fairfax County's Climate Plans


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