Illinois EPA Releases Illinois Comprehensive Climate Action Plan

Report provides roadmap for decarbonization in Illinois

Springfield - The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the Illinois Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP). The report builds on the state's Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP), which the agency submitted to U.S. EPA in 2024 as part of the federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program. The Illinois EPA won a $430 million grant under the CPRG program to implement programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Following broad public outreach, the CCAP provides an actionable roadmap to meet Illinois' carbon reduction goals.

Analysis in the Plan found that Illinois has reduced planet-warming greenhouse gas pollution by 32% since 2005, but more action will be needed to meet the state's goal of net zero emissions by 2050. The plan models a set of policies that, if adopted by the General Assembly, would reduce emissions in the state by 72% from 2005 levels by 2050 and finds that implementing these policies would produce $21 billion per year in net benefits by 2050.

"Since the adoption of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), Illinois has been a national leader in addressing carbon emissions, particularly from the energy and transportation sectors," said Illinois EPA Director James Jennings. "The CCAP builds on these past successes by identifying a path for Illinois to achieve significant reductions in climate change-causing greenhouse gases and meet the state's long term climate goals."

"Illinoisans are seeing the extreme heat and storms climate change has brought to our doorstep this summer. We are feeling the high, unpredictable costs of fossil fuel every time we reach for our wallets," said Illinois Climate Advisor JC Kibbey. "This plan shows the great progress we've made on climate and clean energy - and how much more we have left to do. We have the tools to achieve our state's goal of a healthier, cleaner, safer, more affordable future - we only need to use them. The time to start is now."

Illinois has made the most progress reducing emissions in the power sector, with a 60% reduction since 2005, mostly from transitioning away from coal and using lower-polluting sources of power generation. Illinois also cut transportation emissions by 24%, mostly from enhanced fuel efficiency standards and a growing number of electric vehicles on the road.

Illinois EPA developed the CCAP with extensive public input, including nine public listening sessions across the state, resulting in hundreds of survey responses and written comments from residents, organizations, and businesses.

The CCAP expands on greenhouse gas reduction measures included in Illinois' CPRG proposal, including transportation, buildings, industry, and agriculture initiatives. CCAP strategies include:

• Increasing incentives for electric vehicles to replace loss of federal incentives.
• Reducing vehicle miles traveled by focusing new building construction in high density areas.
• Reducing natural gas emissions from buildings through flexible standards.
• Implementing all-electric new construction codes.
• Expanding incentives for heat pumps and building envelope efficiency upgrades.
• Electrifying lawn and landscape equipment.
• Reducing GHG emissions from large manufacturing facilities through flexible standards.
• Reducing emissions from cement production.
• Replacing high global warming potential hydrofluorocarbons with less-warming alternatives.
• Strengthening methane monitoring and emission reductions.
• Expanding incentives for sustainable agriculture.
• Reducing fugitive emissions from coal mining and the oil and gas industry.

The measures outlined within the CCAP set a clear path for Illinois. These actions, if adopted, will enable the state to meet our greenhouse reduction goals and provide benefits to residents through lower fuel costs and improved health benefits for generations to come. Implementation of the measures outlined in the CPAP will require action and appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly.