Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) Directory
About the PCAP Directory
EPA’s Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) Directory organizes data collected from 211 PCAPs submitted by states, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), Tribes, and territories under EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program. PCAPs are a compilation of each jurisdiction’s identified priority actions (or measures) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The directory presents information from more than 30 data categories related to GHG inventories, GHG reduction measures, benefits for low-income and disadvantaged communities (LIDACs), and other PCAP elements.
The directory is designed to help CPRG planning grantees identify and leverage approaches within PCAPs to support the development of their Comprehensive Climate Action Plans (CCAPs) due under the CPRG program.
The PCAP Directory has three components:
- Searchable data tables. PCAP data from states, MSAs, Tribes, and territories is presented in tables focused on PCAP elements (e.g., GHG reduction measures) that can be used to browse, filter, and extract information from the directory’s full dataset. Tables include page number citations and hyperlinks as appropriate to quickly access the primary source materials for each entry.
- Summary tables. Summary tables highlight patterns and trends within the PCAP Directory data (e.g., economic sectors with the largest number of GHG reduction measures) across and within different jurisdictional levels.
- Downloadable spreadsheets. The data collected by EPA from state, MSA, Tribal, and territorial PCAPs is available to download. This includes data featured in the searchable tables, data used to create the summary tables, and other PCAP data that does not appear in the directory web pages.
How to use the PCAP Directory
Explore Searchable Data Tables
Searchable data tables covering a range of PCAP topic areas can be accessed at the following links. See each page for tips on how to use the data tables.
- Inventory tools used
- Baseline year
- Sectors covered
- Measure description
- Measure types and sectors
- Quantification tools and methods
- GHG reductions
GHG Reduction Measures with Co-Pollutant Benefits
- Measure description
- Measure types and sectors
- Quantification tools and methods
- Co-pollutant benefits analysis type
- LIDAC benefits analysis type
- LIDAC benefit types
- LIDAC engagement approach
Explore Summary Tables
Summary tables highlight patterns and trends within the PCAP Directory data (e.g., economic sectors with the largest number of GHG reduction measures) across and within different jurisdictional levels. Summary tables are organized by topic and correspond to one of the searchable tables.
GHG Inventories Summary Tables
- Inventory coverage by sector
- Inventory coverage by gas
- Quantification tool used
GHG Reduction Measures Summary Tables
- Measures by sector
- Quantification tool used
- Measure types by sector
Co-Pollutant Benefits Summary Tables
- Criteria air pollutant benefits analysis type
- Hazardous air pollutant benefits analysis type
- Quantification tool used
- LIDAC benefit analysis type
- LIDAC benefit types
- LIDAC engagement approach
Download the PCAP Directory Data
Source data for the searchable and summary tables is available for download by jurisdictional level. The following additional data fields not displayed in the searchable tables are included: each PCAP’s lead organization, implementing authorities identified for each measures, gases included in the GHG inventory, global warming potentials used by each GHG inventory, tools used to identify LIDAC areas, anticipated climate impacts to LIDACs, and whether each PCAP included a workforce planning analysis.
How EPA Developed the PCAP Directory
EPA reviewed 211 PCAPs submitted under the CPRG program to identify information about GHG inventories, GHG emission reduction measures, LIDAC benefits, and other PCAP elements. Some elements identified in the review, like the co-pollutant analysis of GHG reduction measures, were optional rather than required. The resulting directory includes data describing major required elements and some optional elements of each PCAP. While all data entries collected by EPA aim to reflect the original text from the source PCAPs, some entries were adjusted for clarity and consistency.
Each grantee approached the elements of their PCAP differently, and with varying degrees of detail. In particular, not all measures identified in the PCAPs were defined with the same level of detail or had associated quantified GHG emission impacts. For the purposes of this review, EPA classified information within a PCAP as a “measure” if it met one of two criteria:
- The PCAP explicitly designated an action as a measure, or
- The PCAP associated an action with a quantified greenhouse gas reduction estimate.
The directory accounts for variability in detail among the PCAPs by creating measure type categories at different levels of specificity. EPA also documented the quantification approaches and tools where possible to provide additional transparency.
This directory is intended as a resource for climate action planning: it offers insights into diverse GHG reduction strategies, inventory approaches, LIDAC considerations, and quantification methods.
Context and Limitations
Inclusion in the directory does not imply EPA’s endorsement of any specific PCAP or approach to an element within a PCAP. Similarly, the absence of a certain approach should not preclude state, local, Tribal, and territorial governments from considering it as part of a climate action planning exercise.
All directory data is copied or summarized from publicly available PCAPs and based on EPA’s understanding of those plans. Any errors or inaccuracies are EPA’s own. Please contact us with any corrections at CPRG@epa.gov.