Sustainable Dubuque - Greenhouse Gas Inventory Update | June 15, 2026

The City of Dubuque Government held a special City Council work session on June 15, 2026, focused on updating the community-wide Greenhouse Gas Inventory as part of the Sustainable Dubuque initiative. Consultants from Lotus Engineering presented the 2025 inventory results, showing a 39% reduction in emissions since 2003 and progress toward the city's goal of a 50% reduction by 2030. The presentation detailed emissions by sector, methodology updates, and comparisons with other similar cities. The council discussed challenges related to limited state and federal support, emphasizing the importance of local actions such as municipal operations improvements, community outreach, and climate-friendly infrastructure investments. Several ongoing programs were highlighted, including the Youth Climate Action Fund, Branching Out Dubuque tree planting initiative, and methane capture at the landfill and wastewater treatment plant. The council expressed a commitment to incremental progress and preparing for future funding opportunities to meet ambitious science-based targets.