Climate Priorities Survey

The Atlanta Regional Commission is developing the first comprehensive climate action plan for the 29-county Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Metro Atlanta Climate Action Plan (MACAP) will serve as a roadmap to create a sustainable and resilient future for all, while also highlighting strategic initiatives to transition to near net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.

We want to identify strategies and actions that support the long-term health and resilience of our community and we need your help. Your feedback and input through this survey will be an important part of our planning process!

Atlanta MSA Map

Are you a resident of or do you work within the 29-county Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area? (See map with counties above.)

I am a resident of the MSA

98%

I represent a non-profit or non-governmental organization that works within the MSA

17%

I represent a community-based organization that works within the MSA

10%

I represent a local government (city/county) within the MSA

I own a business within the MSA

I represent an academic institution that works within the MSA

I represent a state agency that works within the MSA

Other

I represent a philanthropic organization that supports initiatives within the MSA

Closed to responses | 115 Responses

What MSA county or counties are you located in or do you serve?

Fulton

59%

DeKalb

40%

Cobb

17%

Gwinnett

11%

Fayette

Cherokee

Clayton

Bartow

Henry

Rockdale

Douglas

Newton

Pickens

Carroll

Coweta

Forsyth

Haralson

Meriweather

Paulding

Barrow

Butts

Dawson

Heard

Jasper

Lumpkin

Morgan

Pike

Spalding

Walton

Closed to responses | 112 Responses

How did you learn about the Metro Atlanta Climate Action Plan?

Colleague or friend

37%

ARC's website or social media

27%

ARC email

25%

Other

17%

ARC newsletter

Search engine (e.g. Google)

Closed to responses | 106 Responses

CLIMATE PRIORITIES

As part of our plan, we will be developing strategies and actions to tackle greenhouse gas emissions within 5 focus areas:

TRANSPORTATION: Increasing options for more people to walk, bike, take public transportation, or use electric vehicles will help reduce transportation-related GHG emissions so our region has cleaner air to breathe.

BUILDINGS: More efficient heating & cooling will have multiple benefits including more comfortable homes & workplaces, improved community health, greater resilience in the face of extreme weather & other emergencies, & reduced energy costs for residents & building owners.

ENERGY: To decrease harmful emissions, we need to transition to meet the energy needs of our homes, businesses, & vehicles with renewable sources of energy. Renewable energy includes energy from sunlight, biogas, & geothermal heat.

WASTE: Reducing the amount of waste created by our communities, composting, and recycling can help reduce GHG emissions and the need to extract additional natural resources.

NATURAL LANDS: Restoring, protecting, and expanding natural systems provides a natural defense against climate change and can lessen the impact of flooding and urban heat as well as absorb emissions.

We want to hear from you about your Climate Priorities to help us shape goals, strategies, and actions for the Metro Atlanta Climate Action Plan. For each category below, let us know how important each topic is to you. Feel free to rank and vote on as many or as few of the topics as you would like.

Each of these topics ends with an option to post additional thoughts publicly using your name or chosen nickname. If you wish to comment anonymously, please toggle off the "post publicly" button at the bottom of the text box for each question. In doing so, your responses will only be routed to our project team. Thank you for providing your valuable feedback!

TRANSPORTATION: In thinking about how you get around the community, which of the items below are most important to you? (Click a bar and drag it to the top of the list in order of priority to you.)

Closed to responses | 64 Responses

BUILDINGS: In thinking about the sustainability of your home, business, or buildings in your community, which of the items below are most important to you? (Click a bar and drag it to the top of the list in order of priority to you.)

Closed to responses | 59 Responses

ENERGY: In thinking about the supply of energy to our homes, businesses, and vehicles across the community, which of these are most important to you?
(Click a bar and drag it to the top of the list in order of priority to you.)

Closed to responses | 56 Responses

WASTE: In thinking about dealing with waste in your home, business, and/or neighborhood, which of these are most important to you? (Click a bar and drag it to the top of the list in order of priority to you.)

Closed to responses | 54 Responses

NATURAL LANDS: In thinking about the natural outdoor spaces in our community, which of these are most important to you? (Click a bar and drag it to the top of the list in order of priority to you.)

Closed to responses | 63 Responses

In thinking about challenges or concerns related to the climate action topics you've just explored and ranked, what may be the most important potential impacts to consider? (Select up to 4)

Disproportionate impacts and effects in communities

70%

Lengthy/difficult applications for grants, rebates, and other financial assistance

55%

Increased cost of living overall

45%

Burdensome regulations need to put these actions in place

38%

Increased cost of utilities

38%

Land use changes (e.g. areas repurposed for solar, more compact building)

28%

Workforce impacts (e.g., loss of jobs or lack of educational opportunities)

23%

Less reliable energy

13%

Other

Short-term disruptions due to road closures and construction

Closed to responses | 53 Responses

STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS

Within each of the categories above, we will be developing strategies to identify specific solutions to the barriers and concerns listed above. Examples of strategies and actions might include:

- Planting more trees across the community to absorb emissions and reduce the impacts of extreme heat

- Deploying more electric vehicle charging stations to serve areas that do not already have them

- Providing rebates for the purchase of e-bikes to give community members better access to low-cost, low-carbon transportation

Do you have any recommendations for strategies or actions? (Type into the box above the orange comment button below and then hit "Comment" to post your idea.)

Closed for Comments

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

If you have a little more time, please let us know more about yourself and your views on climate change by answering the following questions.

How often do you think about climate change?

Daily

66%

Often

28%

Not Often

Closed to responses | 92 Responses

Which of the following are applicable to you? (select all that apply)

Have felt uncomfortable due to extreme heat

80%

Compost at home or participate in curbside composting

49%

Have experienced property damage or power outage due to recent weather

42%

Bike to school or work

28%

Have had a home or business energy efficiency assessment

19%

Drive an electric vehicle

19%

Participate in a community solar program

12%

Have solar on my home or business

Closed to responses | 90 Responses

In thinking about the ability of your community to adapt to the impacts of climate change like extreme heat, flooding, and severe weather, which of the items below are a high priority to you? (Click a bar and drag it to the top of the list in order of priority to you.)

Closed to responses | 61 Responses

Do you have other thoughts on priorities or concerns related to climate change? Tell us more in the space below:

Closed for Comments

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Climate Priorities Survey

Climate Priorities Survey

Step 1

Are you a resident of or do you work within the 29-county Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area? (See map with counties above.)

What MSA county or counties are you located in or do you serve?

How did you learn about the Metro Atlanta Climate Action Plan?

TRANSPORTATION: In thinking about how you get around the community, which of the items below are most important to you? (Click a bar and drag it to the top of the list in order of priority to you.)

BUILDINGS: In thinking about the sustainability of your home, business, or buildings in your community, which of the items below are most important to you? (Click a bar and drag it to the top of the list in order of priority to you.)

ENERGY: In thinking about the supply of energy to our homes, businesses, and vehicles across the community, which of these are most important to you?(Click a bar and drag it to the top of the list in order of priority to you.)

WASTE: In thinking about dealing with waste in your home, business, and/or neighborhood, which of these are most important to you? (Click a bar and drag it to the top of the list in order of priority to you.)

NATURAL LANDS: In thinking about the natural outdoor spaces in our community, which of these are most important to you? (Click a bar and drag it to the top of the list in order of priority to you.)

In thinking about challenges or concerns related to the climate action topics you've just explored and ranked, what may be the most important potential impacts to consider? (Select up to 4)

Do you have any recommendations for strategies or actions? (Type into the box above the orange comment button below and then hit "Comment" to post your idea.)

How often do you think about climate change?

Which of the following are applicable to you? (select all that apply)

In thinking about the ability of your community to adapt to the impacts of climate change like extreme heat, flooding, and severe weather, which of the items below are a high priority to you? (Click a bar and drag it to the top of the list in order of priority to you.)

Do you have other thoughts on priorities or concerns related to climate change? Tell us more in the space below:

ENERGY: In thinking about the supply of energy to our homes, businesses, and vehicles across the community, which of these are most important to you?
(Click a bar and drag it to the top of the list in order of priority to you.)