Welcome!
Welcome to the Engage Ann Arbor site for the City’s Carbon Offset Engagement Program. We are so glad you are here!
Background
The City of Ann Arbor has set the goal of community-wide carbon neutrality by the year 2030. To help achieve this goal, the City adopted the A2ZERO Plan, which outlines various strategies and actions that the City could take to achieve carbon neutrality. One of those actions is investing in carbon offsets. Over the next several months, the City is undertaking a public engagement and educational effort to determine what types of carbon offsets to recommend to City Council. Your input is invaluable in helping the City advance this work.
Learn more about carbon offsets on the City’s website.
Carbon offsets or carbon offsetting refers to the action of funding projects that remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere (removal projects) or reduce future emissions (avoidance projects). Carbon offset projects give rise to carbon credits.
Do Carbon Offsets Replace Local Emission Reduction Efforts?
No! Carbon offsets help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions immediately while the city continues to implement and develop new strategies to lower local greenhouse gas emissions. Since it is not possible to eliminate all emissions from Ann Arbor immediately, carbon offsets provide a practical way to take responsibility for our impact while supporting climate solutions in another location, providing immediate climate benefits.
What Types of Projects Could be Carbon Offset Projects?
Common types of carbon offset projects include forestry, energy, waste disposal, industrial, coastal and freshwater protection, agriculture, and technological carbon removal projects.
Where Can I Go to Learn More?
Learn more about carbon offsets on the City’s website.
This project is being done to help shape recommendations that will go to City Council toward the end of 2026 or early 2027 regarding what type of carbon offsets to invest in. The project will unfold in four phases (we are currently in Phase 1):
- Phase 1: Conduct public outreach and education around carbon offsets. This phase will take place August-September 2026 and includes
- Launching a public website and Engage Ann Arbor page about offsets
- Hosting a public forum at the Downtown Ann Arbor District Library on September 1 from 6-7pm
- Gathering public input via a city-wide input survey
- Phase 2: Gather specific details about possible carbon offset projects. This phase will take place October-November 2026 and includes:
- Using feedback from Phase 1 to research specific carbon offset projects
- Launching a second city-wide survey to gather input on possible carbon offset projects/investments
- Working with City Council to gather additional feedback and input from residents
- Phase 3: Recommend specific carbon offset(s) to City Council in December/January based on input gathered through Phases 1 and 2
- Phase 4: Implement and track progress and impact of carbon offsets. This phase of work will be ongoing with an anticipated start date in early to mid-2027.
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