Slowing global warming - the local way

On Feb. 16 the Kyoto Protocol went into force to address global warming internationally - but the first government in the world to set a target for reducing global warming was a city. In 1987 Toronto, Canada, set a 10-year goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% - and it has greatly exceeded even that goal, cutting greenhouse-gas emissions by 42% since 1990 through energy-efficiency programs.

Since then 154 U.S. local governments have joined the Cities for Climate Protection campaign of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability (formerly the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) to fight global climate disruption through local action. CCP members within the Bay Chapter include Marin County, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Fairfax, and the Marin Municipal Water District.

Across the country these CCP jurisdictions represent more than 50 million people and 20% of US greenhouse-gas emissions. These local governments report astounding annual results, cutting out the equivalent of 23 million tons of CO₂ emissions, and saving 8.2 million megawatt hours of electricity, 84 million gallons of fuel (gasoline and diesel), and 466 million cubic feet of natural gas while saving $600 million in energy and fuel costs.

Local governments across the U.S. are leading the action to stop global warming.

Why local governments?

The Kyoto Protocol, negotiated through the U.N., sets targets for reducing greenhouse gases emitted by developing nations and creates mechanisms for investing in projects to reduce these emissions in developing nations. It targets the U.S. for a 7% reduction - but the U.S. has not ratified the treaty and the Bush administration refuses to participate.

Even if the federal government were fully committed to the protocol, there would still be good reason for local governments to exercise leadership. They have enormous investments in roads, vehicles, signaling equipment, storm-water drainage systems, water and heating systems, and other infrastructure. Local laws and policies can affect emissions from industries, vehicles, and households. Certain local-government operations, such as pumping water and operating fleets of vehicles use large amounts of energy. Local governments purchase enough paper, fuel, and vehicles to influence markets. Perhaps even more important, local governments can set a visible model for individuals and businesses to follow.

Fortunately, as local efforts address the global issue, they also save energy and money. When a city or county reduces energy use, the community also reduces health problems such as asthma, infections, and tainted water and helps meet air-quality standards. Less energy use means less burning of fossil fuel and reduced dependence on foreign oil. The following list is a sample of valuable Bay Area initiatives.

San Francisco's vanpooling program reduces congestion by promoting more efficient travel - annually saving more than $800,000 and 480,000 gallons of gasoline, and cutting emissions of carbon dioxide by 4,773 tons.
Berkeley has joined forces with Community Energy Services Corporation, a community-based non-profit, to reduce energy use in the community. Their "Smart Lights" energy-efficiency program seeks to save energy and money in small businesses in Berkeley. Since 2002 the program has served 900 businesses, which each year collectively save more than $800,000 on electricity bills (enough electricity to power 700 homes) and power-plant greenhouse-gas emissions equivalent to taking 320 cars off the road.
The city of Santa Cruz directed personnel to turn off the lights in public buildings at night. The city achieves annual savings of $27,000 in electricity costs (240,000 kilowatt hours) and annual reductions of greenhouse-gas emissions of 79,630 tons. Residents and city employees can also develop habits that save at home.
Cities throughout the area have installed light-emitting-diode traffic signals to cut energy use by 3/4. Durable LEDs also reduce maintenance costs.
Marin County and Berkeley have institutionalized commitments to climate action and sustainability in their Comprehensive Plans.

ICLEI is also working with the California Climate Registry to develop a protocol for municipal governments to register greenhouse-gas savings. Registered cities will have a greater incentive to engage in reductions now because they will be able to get credit in the future for the work they do now.

WhatYouCanDo

What is your local government doing to reduce greenhouse gases? Encourage your local officials (city, county, and other local agencies) to take action. Urge them to pass a resolution to participate in the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign. The following list includes some other opportunities for action.

Energy office

conservation programs;
competitions to cut energy use;
awards for achievements;
training and displays.

Finance

utility franchise agreements requiring conservation programs and use of renewables;
green-power purchases including electricity generated with renewable resources.

Sewage, water

pumping;
purification;
distribution;
heating.

Planning/economic development

zoning rules to reward use of public transportation through fewer parking-space requirements;
transit-oriented design;
congestion pricing;
flexible fee structures to reward greenhouse-gas mitigation;
supporting energy-efficient affordable housing.

Transportation

promoting use of public transit;
providing infrastructure that promotes bike commuting.

Solid waste

curbside recycling programs;
promoting re-use of material before recycling.

Real estate/facilities

adopting energy-efficient local building standards;
heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning;
maintenance;
energy-efficient retrofits of existing buildings;
energy-management systems to control electricity use;
re-use materials;
lighting;
plumbing;
re-use building materials to avoid extraction, manufacture, wrapping, shipping, etc.

Public works

set signal timings to reduce congestion;
install energy-efficient, durable equipment.

Susan Ode

Susan Ode is the outreach officer for ICLEI-US. She came to ICLEI from Saint Paul, MN, where she designed and managed the city's Energy Conservation Project to save $500,000 and reduce 8,432 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Contact Susan at www.iclei.org/us or email sode -at- iclei.org