Chester County residents can weigh in on how the county tackles greenhouse gas emissions, flooding and energy costs through Thursday, July 31.

The Chester County Planning Commission opened a second public survey on its Climate Action Plan update, and the deadline to respond is fast approaching.

West Goshen Township posted the survey link on Tuesday, directing residents, workers and visitors to take the online questionnaire. The survey is available in English and Spanish.

The Climate Action Plan, adopted by the Chester County Commissioners on Oct. 7, 2021, sets a goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent from 2005 levels by 2050. It covers county government operations and community-wide activity across four sectors: buildings and energy, transportation and land use, waste management and agriculture and forestry. The plan includes nearly 150 actions tied to 17 objectives.

The 2021 plan called for a full review every five years, making 2026 the first scheduled comprehensive update. The Environmental and Energy Advisory Board is serving as the steering committee for that update, according to Chester County Planning Commission board meeting minutes from March. Rachael Griffith, the Planning Commission's Sustainability Division lead, is overseeing the work.

First survey drew 1,250 responses

The first survey in the two-part series drew approximately 1,250 respondents. Results were presented at an EEAB meeting on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

Key findings: nearly half of respondents said they had never heard of the Climate Action Plan. About 80 percent said they were concerned or very concerned about climate change. More than 70 percent said they would support county measures to help residents and businesses reduce emissions.

Most respondents reported experiencing flooding, storm damage or unsafe travel from heavier rain or stronger storms in the past five years. Nature-based solutions to protect against flooding, such as rain gardens and green infrastructure, received the highest priority rating among resilience options.

How to take the survey

The English survey is at surveymonkey.com/r/ChesCoClimateSurvey2. A Spanish version is at surveymonkey.com/r/ChesCoClimateSurvey2_Esp. The deadline is Thursday, July 31.

The Planning Commission said the survey results will inform the updated plan. No date has been announced for when the updated plan will go before the commissioners for adoption.

The current Chester County Commissioners are Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz, and Eric Roe. Residents can contact the Planning Commission at 610-344-6285 or [email protected].