Climate Action Planning: A Guide to Creating Low-Carbon, Resilient Communities
384
Climate Action Planning: A Guide to Creating Low-Carbon, Resilient Communities
384Paperback(Revised, Revised)
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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781610919630 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Island Press |
| Publication date: | 07/16/2019 |
| Edition description: | Revised, Revised |
| Pages: | 384 |
| Sales rank: | 305,375 |
| Product dimensions: | 8.80(w) x 6.00(h) x 1.00(d) |
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CHAPTER 1
Climate Action Planning
To prevent the worst impacts of climate change, we have to cut greenhouse gas emissions even as the population grows. Cities are showing that it can be done — and that the same steps they're taking to reduce their carbon footprint are also strengthening their local economies, creating jobs, and improving public health.
— Michael R. Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City, UN secretary-general's special envoy for climate action, and president of the C40 Board
The Fourth National Climate Assessment prepared by the U.S. Global Change Research Program in 2018 clearly establishes the nature of the global warming problem:
The impacts of climate change are already being felt in communities across the country. More frequent and intense extreme weather and climate-related events, as well as changes in average climate conditions, are expected to continue to damage infrastructure, ecosystems, and social systems that provide essential benefits to communities. Future climate change is expected to further disrupt many areas of life, exacerbating existing challenges to prosperity posed by aging and deteriorating infrastructure, stressed ecosystems, and economic inequality. Impacts within and across regions will not be distributed equally. People who are already vulnerable, including lower-income and other marginalized communities, have lower capacity to prepare for and cope with extreme weather and climate-related events and are expected to experience greater impacts. Prioritizing adaptation actions for the most vulnerable populations would contribute to a more equitable future within and across communities. Global action to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions can substantially reduce climate-related risks and increase opportunities for these populations in the longer term.
Global warming is already impacting human health and safety, the economy, and ecosystems. As greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue to accumulate in the atmosphere, global warming impacts will increase in severity. The global challenge is twofold: reduce the human-caused emissions of heat-trapping gases and respond to the negative climate impacts already being felt and the likelihood that they will worsen in the future.
The largest sources of these heat-trapping GHGs are fossil fuel–burning power plants and fossil fuel–burning vehicles (see figure 1.1). For the former, changes such as better technology, the development of large-scale renewable energy, and the retirement of old, inefficient power plants (especially those that burn coal) have an important role to play in reducing GHG emissions. For the latter, evolving vehicle and fuel technology and standards help reduce GHG emissions. These types of technological evolution and large-scale energy programs are driven by private-sector investment and federal and state government legislation and programs. Although these efforts are important and necessary, the problem of global warming cannot be solved without the participation of communities, local governments, and individuals as well.
Local action is critical for the necessary GHG emissions reductions to occur. Local governments control the vast majority of building construction, transportation investments, and land use decisions in the United States. Civic and business organizations, environmental groups, and citizens can join forces with local governments and commit to local action that includes energy-efficient operation of local government; energy-efficient buildings; renewable energy systems; alternatives to driving, such as buses and bicycles; and city planning that improves the quality of life and allows people to depend less on their cars. The goal is to create low-carbon, resilient communities.
Fortunately, communities all over the world are responding to the challenge of climate change by assessing their GHG emissions and specifying actions to reduce these emissions. As of early 2019, over 9,000 mayors representing over 780 million people around the globe had made a commitment to address climate change through the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (see box 1.1). These mayors have made commitments to reduce GHG emissions by 1.4 billion metric tons by 2030. At the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, numerous mayors reported on their progress and made new commitments to accelerate their ambition in addressing climate change. The Lord Mayor Clover Moore of Sydney declared,
Greenhouse [gas] emissions in the City of Sydney peaked in 2007 and have declined every year since — despite our economy expanding by 37 percent. We've achieved this because we developed a long-term plan with ambitious targets and we determinedly stuck to that plan for over a decade. We have one of the largest rooftop solar programs in Australia, we converted our streetlights to LED and we're working with industry leaders to reduce their emissions. We lead by example and we partner with businesses and residents to help them on their journey. As the first government in Australia to be certified carbon neutral, our achievements show the impact that can be had at a City level despite shocking inaction from State and National Governments.
San Francisco mayor London Breed stated,
Our greenhouse gas emissions peaked in 2000, [and] since then, we've successfully reduced them by 30% from 1990 levels, while growing our economy by 111% and increasing our population by 20%. But in order to fully realize the ambitions of the Paris Climate Accord, we must continue to make bold commitments and accelerate actions that reduce emissions and move us towards a clean energy future. That is why, in addition to formally joining the Sierra Club's nationwide clean energy campaign, San Francisco is committing to reducing landfill disposal by 50% by 2030 and ensuring all of our buildings are net-zero emissions by 2050.
Box 1.1
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy Commitment
I, [Name], [Mayor or equivalent representative title] of [name of city or jurisdiction] commit to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, joining thousands of other cities and local governments around the world currently engaged in climate leadership.
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy envisions a world where committed mayors and local governments — in alliance with partners — accelerate ambitious, measurable climate and energy initiatives that lead to an inclusive, just, low-emission and climate resilient future, helping to meet and exceed the Paris Agreement objectives.
Whatever the size or location, the mayors and local leaders committed to the Global Covenant stand ready to take concrete measures with long-term impact to tackle the interconnected challenges of climate change mitigation, adaptation, and access to sustainable energy.
To implement this vision, the [city/town/village/type of jurisdiction] of [name of city or jurisdiction] pledges to implement policies and undertake measures to (i) reduce / limit greenhouse gas emissions, (ii) prepare for the impacts of climate change, (iii) increase access to sustainable energy, and (iv) track progress toward these objectives. Specifically, within no more than three years of this commitment, we pledge to develop, formally adopt and report on the following:
• A community-scale greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory;
• An assessment of climate hazards and vulnerabilities;
• Ambitious, measurable and time-bound target(s) to reduce/limit greenhouse gas emissions;
• Ambitious adaptation vision and goals, based on quantified scientific evidence when possible, to increase local resilience to climate change;
• Ambitious and just goal to improve access to sustainable energy; and
• Plan(s) to address climate change mitigation / low emission development, climate resilience and adaptation, and access to sustainable energy, including provisions for regular (annual or biennial) progress reports.
The targets and action plans for mitigation / low emission development must be quantified and consistent with or exceed relevant national commitments defined through the relevant UNFCCC [United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change] (Intended) Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
We acknowledge that there may be additional region- or country-specific commitments for us to adhere to, agreed through our local membership networks or through our direct engagement with local Global Covenant of Mayors partners.
The [city/town/village/type of jurisdiction] of [name of city or jurisdiction] acknowledges that continued membership in the Global Covenant of Mayors and associated local chapters or "Regional Covenants" as established, is contingent on complying with the above requirements within established timeframes.
Source: Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, https://www.globalcovenantofmayors.org.
As of 2019, over 200 U.S. cities and counties had committed to over 500 climate actions through the United Nation's Global Climate Action portal (see figure 1.2). In the last decade, the field of climate action planning has rapidly advanced from the commitment and planning phase to the implementation phase. Many communities are now showing success in both reducing GHG emissions and becoming more resilient.
Local action is also occurring on climate adaption. One of the most notable global initiatives was 100 Resilient Cities (100RC), started by the Rockefeller Foundation. The 100RC program sought to embed the urgency of climate adaption within the broader social, cultural, and economic issues of the city. Becoming a resilient city isn't just responding to climate change; it is also addressing such issues as food security, access to jobs, and social justice to create a resilient community in the most comprehensive sense. The program provided participant cities with support for hiring a chief resilience officer (CRO), developing a resilience strategy, and accessing a global network of partners and fellow cities. Most of the participant cities have now completed resilience strategies and hired a CRO. In Norfolk, Virginia, the CRO is directing an effort "to transform an area of highly concentrated poverty adjacent to downtown into a vibrant mixed-income and mixed-use neighborhood."
Also at the local level, many U.S. colleges and universities are leading the way in climate action planning. As of early 2019, nearly 500 U.S. colleges and universities had committed to climate action through the Second Nature Climate Leadership Network. Many of these colleges and universities have pledged to assist their local communities in pursuing their own climate action goals. There is a great opportunity for communities to partner with their local colleges and universities to share knowledge and resources and engage in collaborative planning.
The tremendous variety of efforts taking place in cities, counties, and colleges and universities to address the problem of climate change is impressive and suggestive of the need to establish "best practices" in this field of planning for GHG emissions reduction and climate change adaptation. This book provides basic guidance on conducting local climate action planning, including the preparation of climate action plans and other policies and programs. The information in the book should be useful to cities, counties, colleges and universities, tribal governments, and other local government entities, since the basic climate action planning process is the same. Although climate action is needed at higher levels of government as well — states, nations, and international organizations — this book focuses on the local level but addresses the linkages across the various scales of action.
What Is Climate Action Planning?
Climate action planning is a strategic planning process for developing policies and programs for reducing (or mitigating) a community's GHG emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Climate action planning may be visionary, setting broad outlines for future policy development and coordination, or it may focus on implementation with detailed policy and program information. Although there is no official process for climate action planning, the most commonly followed has been ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Five Milestones. A review of existing guidance and best practice shows that climate action planning is usually based on GHG emissions inventories and forecasts, which identify the sources of emissions from the community and quantify the amounts. Communities usually also identify a GHG emissions reduction goal or target. To reduce emissions and meet the reduction target, climate action planning typically focuses on land use, transportation, energy use, and waste, since these are the sectors that produce the greatest amount of GHG emissions, and may differentiate between communitywide actions (including the public's) and local government agency actions. This book refers to these actions as emissions reductions or reduction strategies rather than using the terms mitigation or mitigation strategies. Additionally, many communities now address how they will respond to the impacts of climate change on the community, such as sea-level rise, extreme heat and wildfire, and changes in ecological processes; this is usually referred to as climate adaptation (see box 1.2).
Box 1.2
Defining Emissions Reduction (Mitigation) and Climate Adaptation
Terminology is not consistent in climate action planning. Two common terms are climate mitigation and climate adaptation. This book [Climate Action Planning], rather than referring to mitigation or mitigation strategies, refers to emissions reductions or reduction strategies as the preferred terminology. Either terminology refers to actions that reduce the net amount of GHG emissions to the atmosphere. The objective of emissions reduction is to produce low-carbon communities.
Climate adaptation refers to actions taken to improve a community's resilience when confronted with impacts of climate change. This usually includes addressing sea-level rise, changes in weather and rainfall, and increased susceptibility to natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, and hurricanes. Climate adaptation planning is linked very closely to hazard mitigation planning, and this often creates confusion over terminology. To avoid this confusion, this book [Climate Action Planning] uses the terms climate adaptation and adaptation. The objective of climate adaptation is to produce resilient communities.
Climate change is like an imminent car crash.
Mitigation is the brakes — it will reduce the magnitude of the impact of climate change.
Adaptation is the airbags — it will soften the blow.
We need BOTH to survive the crash intact.
Source: Geos Institute and Local Government Commission, Integrated Strategies for a Vibrant and Sustainable Fresno County (March 2011), http://www.lgc.org/wordpress/docs/adaptation/fresno/Integrated_Strategies _for_Vibrant_Sustainable_Fresno_County_3011.pdf, 18.
The outcomes of a climate action planning process can be documented, codified, and implemented in a number of ways. Many communities have chosen to adopt stand-alone climate action plans (CAPs). Others choose to integrate the developed climate action strategies into comprehensive land use plans, "green" plans, sustainability plans, or other community-level planning documents (see box 1.3). For example, New York City prepared a sustainability plan titled PlaNYC that addresses housing, open space, brownfields, and water and air quality as well as climate change. The City of Hermosa Beach, California, integrated climate policy and programs throughout their community general plan. Yet others are acting more incrementally as opportunities arise to integrate climate action, such as during the update of a zoning code or when evaluating investments in coastal infrastructure.
Box 1.3
Types of Local Plans Addressing Climate Change
Communities may choose to address climate change through a variety of local planning documents. The following five are the most common types: Climate action plans: Stand-alone plans specifically addressing climate change issues and based on local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories and climate vulnerability assessments.
Sustainability and "green" plans: Plans that address a variety of sustainability, "green," or environmental issues but include a climate action section.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Climate Action Planning"
by .
Copyright © 2019 Michael R. Boswell, Adrienne I. Greve, and Tammy L. Seale.
Excerpted by permission of ISLAND PRESS.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Preface ix
Chapter 1 Climate Action Planning 1
Chapter 2 Creating a Framework for Community Action 37
Chapter 3 Community Engagement and Collaboration 73
Chapter 4 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounting 95
Chapter 5 Strategies for Creating Low-Carbon Communities 133
Chapter 6 Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 173
Chapter 7 Strategies for Creating Resilient Communities 193
Chapter 8 Pathways to Successful Implementation 225
Chapter 9 Communities Leading the Way 251
Chapter 10 Time to Act 297
Appendix A Climate Science 305
Appendix B The Public Participation Program 321
Additional Resources 329
Notes 339
Index 351
