Winnetka Set To Adopt Climate Action Plan To Cut Emissions

WINNETKA, IL — The Winnetka Village Council is set to adopt the village’s Climate Action Plan at Tuesday's meeting, putting a formal framework in place for community-wide greenhouse gas emission reductions.

The proposed Climate Action Plan is a data-driven, community-centered roadmap for reducing emissions while prioritizing feasibility and accountability, according to the village.

“This CAP reflects a collective commitment to protecting our environment, strengthening resilience, and enhancing the quality of life for current and future generations in Winnetka,” the village said.

The Climate Action Plan was developed to align with the goals of the Winnetka Futures 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Within that plan, Pillar 4 directs the village to “establish a community framework for Sustainability and consider appropriate public resources to guide, manage, and educate the residents on the value of a Sustainability & Climate Action Plan.”

In summer 2025, the village engaged KERAMIDA environmental consultants to lead development of the plan. The first phase of the project was a greenhouse gas inventory to identify sources of carbon emissions and set a historic baseline for measuring results. The second phase defined long-term goals and actions tied to carbon emission reduction targets, based on input from village departments, partner organizations and residents who attended an open house in December 2025.

The focus of the plan is on community-wide greenhouse gas emission reductions. The village said the team identified 19 high-impact greenhouse gas reduction measures across four focus areas: buildings and energy, transportation, waste, and land use.

By 2040, Winnetka’s goal is to reduce emissions by 40 percent through a combination of implementing the plan’s reduction measures and electric grid decarbonization.

“While the Plan, as a whole, is aspirational, it will serve as a roadmap to steer the Village leadership towards a healthier, more sustainable future,” the village said.

Winnetka Village Council meetings are held at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Village Hall at 510 Green Bay Road. To view the full meeting agenda, visit the village's meeting portal.