OBJECTIVE: Adapt and mitigate

The Regional Parks and Trails System provides our region with important ecosystem services to combat climate change. The most critical role natural systems play in climate change mitigation is sequestering carbon in soils and organisms. Additional services will help the region adapt to future climates, including shade and cooling benefits, water storage, and protecting critical habitat that provides refuge for all living things.  

Our regional trail network serves as the arterial backbone of our region’s active transportation system, in coordination with the Regional Bicycle Transportation Network, local trail networks, and other important trail connections. Additionally, regional parks and trails provide wildlife pathways and migratory routes. Agencies are working to reduce or eliminate barriers to wildlife movement by improving connectivity and ensuring all living things can find food, water, and suitable habitat.  

By working together, the Met Council and implementing agencies can anticipate and address climate change impacts and utilize climate tolerant species that adapt to our wetter and warmer region. By making proactive park and trail modernization investments and anticipating future weather conditions that put in place more durable infrastructure and climate-adapted species, our system will be able to survive more frequent storms, freeze-thaw cycles, floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters.  

The Met Council and regional park implementing agencies are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy use and providing for carbon capture. Whether through increased use of renewable energy, electrification of fleets, or investing in smart infrastructure, we share a common commitment to shrink our carbon footprint. The Met Council is committed to providing regionwide climate data and other requested information and technical assistance.