This agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to minnesota pollution control agency (MPCA) to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an…

This agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to minnesota pollution control agency (MPCA) to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an existing plan in collaboration with air pollution control districts, and large and small municipalities statewide, and tribal governments that will support actions to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and harmful air pollutants and to conduct meaningful engagement with low- income and disadvantaged communities. Specifically, the project will support technical analysis, collaboration, and engagement to expand minnesota's climate action framework and identify near-term, high-priority, quantified greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction measures that are applicable at different scales and by different jurisdictions. This work will focus on ensuring that climate actions maximize benefits and lead to the creation of high-quality jobs in the state, especially for low-income and disadvantaged communities (LIDAC). Activities:in general, activities include the development, updating, and evaluation of plans to reduce climate pollution (i.e., to reduce GHG emissions and/or enhance carbon sinks). The interagency minnesota climate change subcabinet, led by MPCA, will develop a priority climate action plan (PCAP) and comprehensive climate action plan (CCAP) that will cover the entire state, using the climate action framework as a foundation. Targets for this work include an overall framework goal to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050, aligning with the united states' nationally determined contribution to cut emissions under the paris agreement. For the PCAP, the subcabinet will identify high-priority mitigation action sectors or sources in collaboration with other state agencies, local governments, tribal governments, stakeholders, and members of the public and build out near-term action steps that are implementable by a diversity of jurisdictions. Subcabinet agencies will quantify the expected mitigation benefits of these actions and review the authority needed to implement each one. The PCAP will include the most recent greenhouse gas inventory for the state, published in january 2023, and is expected to target emission reductions in the transportation, natural and working lands, energy and buildings, and industrial sectors. Subrecipient:$595,632: subaward to department of health to conduct health impacts assessment for qualitative benefits analysis and LIDAC engagement; $554,080: subaward to department of employment and economic development to conduct workforce analysis.outcomes:three key deliverables will be produced and submitted over the course of the four-year program period, including: a priority climate action plan (PCAP), due march 1, 2024; a comprehensive climate action plan (CCAP), due two years from the date of the award; and a status report, due at the close of the grant period. Specific deliverables include: greenhouse gas inventory, greenhouse gas emissions projections, greenhouse gas reduction targets, quantified greenhouse gas mitigation measures, and others (see workplan). The expected outcomes include a PCAP and CCAP that identifies: tons of pollution (ghgs and CO-pollutants) reduced over the lifetime of the measures; tons of pollution (ghgs and CO-pollutants) reduced annually; and tons of pollution (ghgs and CO-pollutants) reduced with respect to low-income and disadvantaged communities. The intended beneficiaries include the residents of the state of minnesota, regional and local governments and environmental justice communities.