The City of Austin is among the twenty finalists announced by the 2025 National Civic League’s All-America City Award for its innovative efforts to strengthen environmental sustainability using inclusive community engagement to create lasting, impactful solutions.

Outlined in the City’s Climate Equity Plan, Austin’s commitment to sustainability has earned it a spot on the finalists list for this prestigious award. By 2021, the plan evolved to include a robust equity framework shaped by input from over 200 community members and organizations. Among many other goals, Austin’s Climate Equity Plan aims to:

• Achieve net-zero community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
• Achieve 90% waste diversion by 2040; Austin achieved a diversion rate of 37% in the 2024 fiscal year with Austin Resource Recovery’s services and programs.
• Reduce single-occupancy vehicle dependency with plans for a new light rail serving over 20,000 affordable housing units and an estimated 28,500 riders daily with Project Connect, Austin’s bold transit investment.
• Expand Austin Energy’s clean energy portfolio. In 2023, 70% of its electricity generation was carbon-free.
• Ensure Austin’s water needs are protected amid increasing climate pressures through Austin Water’s 100-year plan.

“This decade of bold action and innovation demonstrates Austin’s dedication to environmental sustainability, resilience, and equity — core values driving our vision for a thriving, inclusive community,” Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax said. “As highlighted in our Community Participation framework, Austin’s greatest asset is its people: passionate about our city, committed to its improvement, and determined to see this vision become a reality.”

Austin has made community engagement a foundation of its policymaking process, creating structures and opportunities for residents to shape the future of their city. These opportunities bring together residents, experts, and advocates to advise city leaders on key policy decisions. By prioritizing transparency and inclusion, these groups ensure that city policies reflect Austin's diverse population's voices, needs, and aspirations.

Additionally, the City formed specialized community advisory groups for major civic plans to integrate public feedback into decision-making. The Climate Equity Plan was developed through an equity-focused process, including contributions from more than 200 community members and organizations. This plan sets bold goals while prioritizing actions that will positively impact low-income communities and communities of color that are disproportionately affected by climate change.

About the National Civic League’s All-America City Award 

For over 75 years, the National Civic League’s All-America City Award has highlighted and celebrated outstanding civic innovation, recognizing communities that harness the power of local collaboration to drive meaningful change. Each year, cities, towns, counties, and regions nationwide apply for this prestigious recognition, showcasing how their civic capital—the relationships, networks, and capacities that enable problem-solving and resilience—fuels progress.

Finalists were chosen through a competitive review process led by an independent panel of experts, with each application evaluated on the criteria of shared vision, civic engagement, inclusiveness and equity, collaboration, innovation, and impact. Now, these outstanding communities are preparing for the next stage of the competition—the All-America City Award Event in Denver this June—where they will present their stories of success and showcase the impact of their initiatives.

The 20 finalist communities, spanning 12 states, have populations ranging from 11,000 to nearly one million. Despite their differences, they share a commitment to empowering residents, fostering civic engagement, and ensuring meaningful participation in local decision-making.
The winners will be announced at the closing ceremonies of the annual All-America City Award Event and Competition in Denver, CO, June 27-29.

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