County Executive Crowley, Chairwoman Nicholson-Bovell Approve Legislation Upholding Milwaukee County’s Climate Commitments Amid Federal Rollbacks

On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at the Urban Ecology Center’s Washington Park location, County Executive David Crowley and County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell kicked off Earth Month by signing legislation to reaffirm the County’s commitment to the principles and goals of the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change, as well as the scientific findings that support regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The resolution comes in response to recent federal rollbacks in climate policies and investments by the Trump administration.

Milwaukee County first committed to the goals and principles of the Paris Agreement in 2017, following an initial federal withdrawal. In 2021, Chairwoman Nicholson-Bovell introduced legislation directing the Milwaukee County Office of Sustainability to adopt goals to reach net-zero operational emissions by 2050 and administer a strategic plan to do so.

In response to this, County Executive Crowley signed into law the Milwaukee County Climate Action 2050 (CA50) Plan that is aimed at achieving net-zero carbon emissions in Milwaukee County operations by the year 2050, marking a significant step forward in the County’s commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship. Under the leadership of County Executive Crowley and Chairwoman Nicholson-Bovell, Milwaukee County has already reduced operational greenhouse gas emissions by more than 46 percent from 2005 levels, reinforcing the County’s longstanding leadership on climate action.