Climate Office

The ODOT Climate Office was formed in recognition of the importance of reducing carbon emissions from transportation and the impacts climate is having on Oregon's transportation system, and therefore the ability to move people and goods in the state. Climate is being added as another critical lens by which ODOT will need to make decisions and investments, balanced alongside other important considerations like equity, safety, and the economy. By forming a Climate Office, ODOT is consolidating efforts into a strategic approach to help Oregon achieve a cleaner transportation future.

The mission of the ODOT Climate Office is to identify and pursue actions that reduce transportation GHG emissions and the Agency's carbon footprint. The Office is also charged with helping the Agency understand, and begin to prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate and extreme weather.

To accomplish this, the Climate Office will work across ODOT Divisions to educate, develop and institutionalize a climate lens and strategies into the ways the Agency plans for, invests in, builds, manages, maintains, and supports the multi-modal transportation system of Oregon. Staff will also work with other state agencies and local agency partners to find collaborative approaches and solutions, connect with stakeholders, and learn best practices from other states.

Program Areas

Transportation Electrification

Transitioning to electric commercial fleets, public transit systems, and personal vehicles is one of the best ways to reduce emissions from transportation quickly. ODOT is a leader in facilitating the electrification of our transportation system and has set a goal to triple the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on Oregon roads by 2023. In addition, the agency continues to lead efforts to expand EV charging infrastructure by 10-percent state-wide by the end of 2025.

The number of EVs on our roads is increasing. The Transportation Electrification Infrastructure Needs Analysis highlights how we can meet and support growing demand through ambitious and strategic charging infrastructure improvements.

If you are interested in EVs, check out programs like Go Electric Oregon that help make them more affordable, and explore the updates to the West Coast Electric Highway that expand charging options for EV drivers across Oregon.

Mitigation Actions

Mitigation actions (like reducing GHG emissions from transportation) include doing our part to slow the pace of climate change and reduce its negative impacts. Some of these efforts include minimizing emissions when we build roads or repair them; incentivizing car travel alternatives like public transit and biking/walking; and coordinating with other agencies to make progress on our emission reduction goals.

Greenhouse gas lens

The Climate Office is developing a “climate lens” to apply when considering statewide transportation improvements. This lens is applied at each project stage, helping decision-makers reduce GHGs by changing how we plan, invest, design, and maintain the system.

Every Mile Counts

State agencies have to work together to meaningfully reduce emissions. Every Mile Counts is a two-year work plan that specifically targets cleaner vehicles and fuels, reducing drive-alone trips, and local planning for pollution reduction. The rolling work plan is carried out in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Energy, Department of Environmental Quality, and Department of Land Conservation & Development. It is part of a broader effort at ODOT to track and implement the Statewide Transportation Strategy.

Adaptation Actions

Adaptation actions are adjustments that we make to prepare for and flexibly respond to changes in climate. These actions help our transportation system put up with extreme weather. A stronger system is also quicker and easier for us to repair, should weather damage it.

Climate Resilience Planning
The Climate Office is working with groups in and outside the agency to create a climate resilience plan. The plan will provide specific strategies across all of ODOT’s activities for reducing negative impacts and enhancing the system’s ability to prepare, respond, and “bounce back” after an event. This may include improving communications and interagency collaboration, collecting more and different information about climate impacts to the transportation system, and updating infrastructure to withstand more frequent and intense hazardous weather events.

Fact Sheets: How ODOT is Responding to Climate Change Challenges

Check out these fact sheets to learn how landslides, coastal erosion, wildfire, flooding, and winter storms are already effecting our transportation system, and what ODOT is doing to adapt.

Climate Office Quick Links

Oregon Statewide Transportation Strategy (STS)
The STS provides guidance for high priority, coordinated actions to help reduce climate change, and sets emission reduction goals for the next 30 years.

ODOT Climate Action Plan
The Climate Action Plan is a 5-year plan that lists specific actions to address climate change impacts on Oregon’s transportation system.

Transportation Electrification Infrastructure Needs Analysis (TEINA)
The TEINA study highlights gaps in the electric vehicle charging infrastructure and proposes solutions to help accelerate widespread transportation electrification in Oregon.

Every Mile Counts Plan
This plan is a multi-agency effort to prioritize, track, and reach short term greenhouse gas reduction goals that are aligned with key elements of the Statewide Transportation Strategy.

Electric Vehicles and EV Infrastructure
This webpage provides information and links to several EV resources, including charging station maps, funding opportunities for cities and states to upgrade infrastructure, and more.

ODOT Sustainability Program
This webpage outlines the sustainability focused priorities and specific sustainability initiatives that ODOT takes in its own operations.

Oregon Sustainable Transportation Initiative
This webpage details the state-wide initiative and provides resources and tools that help cities reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Transportation and Climate Change
This webpage summarizes programs, initiatives, case studies, and research that ODOT is involved in to plan for climate change.

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Key Efforts

One of the overall objectives of the Climate Office is to consolidate work and better connect transportation-related climate efforts across the state. There are years of laws, directives, orders, and initiatives that include distinctive work items but that relate to other efforts. Although the goal is to better link these long term, many of the key efforts described below are organized by directive or work item to support the public to more easily find information.

The Climate Office is engaged in a broad array of work. Our current priority focus areas include:

Climate Office Quick Links

Oregon Statewide Transportation Strategy (STS)
The STS provides guidance for high priority, coordinated actions to help reduce climate change, and sets emission reduction goals for the next 30 years.

ODOT Climate Action Plan
The Climate Action Plan is a 5-year plan that lists specific actions to address climate change impacts on Oregon’s transportation system.

Transportation Electrification Infrastructure Needs Analysis (TEINA)
The TEINA study highlights gaps in the electric vehicle charging infrastructure and proposes solutions to help accelerate widespread transportation electrification in Oregon.

Every Mile Counts Plan
This plan is a multi-agency effort to prioritize, track, and reach short term greenhouse gas reduction goals that are aligned with key elements of the Statewide Transportation Strategy.

Electric Vehicles and EV Infrastructure
This webpage provides information and links to several EV resources, including charging station maps, funding opportunities for cities and states to upgrade infrastructure, and more.

ODOT Sustainability Program
This webpage outlines the sustainability focused priorities and specific sustainability initiatives that ODOT takes in its own operations.

Oregon Sustainable Transportation Initiative
This webpage details the state-wide initiative and provides resources and tools that help cities reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Transportation and Climate Change
This webpage summarizes programs, initiatives, case studies, and research that ODOT is involved in to plan for climate change.