OMAHA - A climate action plan approved by the Omaha City Council this week aims to reduce Omaha’s greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 and make the city more resilient to such effects of climate change as more frequent floods and more extreme weather.

Net zero means adding no more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere than removed from the atmosphere. The plan includes an intermediate goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 52% by 2035. “I’m pleased that Omaha has now joined every other major city in the country in adopting and now pursuing a climate action plan,” City Council President Pete Festersen said Wednesday. “We’ve done a number of positive things in recent years, but a city needs a comprehensive plan. We need to pursue it with urgency.”

The council voted 5-2 Tuesday to pass an ordinance approving the Climate Action and Resilience Plan and making it part of Omaha’s Master Plan. Council members Don Rowe, Juanita Johnson, Ron Hug and Danny Begley joined Festersen in voting yes. Council Vice President Aimee Melton and Council member Brinker Harding voted no after unsuccessfully pressing to delay the vote to take out portions they opposed.

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