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Greenhouse Gas Reduction Virtual Briefing Book Combating
global warming requires action on a number of fronts. Cities experiencing
initial success in greenhouse gas emissions reduction tend to develop
action plans involving transit, building standards, automobile use and
waste. Berkeley already has benchmarks in these areas, from a
sustainability element in the General Plan to incentives for
green-friendly development. Other cities are taking action too, getting
aggressive about transportation and, in Boulder’s case, enacting a
citywide carbon tax. Below are links to action plans from Berkeley and
cities from the U.S. and around the world. Also included are several
blueprints from environmental organizations calling for action on a larger
scale, including the International Panel on Climate Change 2007 report
widely considered to put to rest any lingering doubts about the severity
of global warming. 1.
Plans from the City of Berkeley
Berkeley
General Plan Berkeley Global Warming Abatement Plan (1998)Reflecting
Berkeley’s initial 1998 goal of a 15% greenhouse gas emissions reduction
by 2010, this plan recommends a series of steps the city can take to make
these reductions possible. Many of these efforts, such as providing
incentives for public transportation, pursuing green building standards
and promoting hybrid vehicles are being utilized today for the city’s
far more ambitious target of an 80% reduction by 2050. Office
of Energy and Sustainable Development: Green Building Initiative Draft Solid Waste Plan UpdateSince the city officially proclaimed a zero waste target by 2020, staff has gone to work looking to achieve further reduction in Berkeley’s overall waste. Some of the proposals for achieving a 75% reduction by 2010 include increased outreach and education, better consolidation of recyclable materials and a greater food waste composting.
Sustainable Business Action PlanQuoting a well-known Muppet named Kermit the Frog, Mayor Tom Bates turns the phrase “it’s not easy being green” on its head, arguing that sustainable business and building practices make economic sense because they can both revitalize Berkeley’s private sector and contribute to its standing as an environmental leader.
Report:
“Towards Sustainable Berkeley” In an attempt to merge business and environmental interests, this report outlines a framework for sustainability models in Berkeley. The emphasis is on making sustainable business the norm rather than the exception.
Berkeley Pedestrian Master Plan; in progressAlta
Planning Design is working with the city’s Department of Transportation
to develop a comprehensive blueprint for making Berkeley more walkable.
City Report on Community Choice AggregationBerkeley’s
Energy Department is in the process of studying Community Choice
Aggregation, which could be a vehicle for energy efficiency. Under this
model, Berkeley would pool resources with neighboring cities to deliver
service and use their purchasing power to demand cleaner energy sources.
Similar efforts are underway in San Francisco and elsewhere. 2. Plans from Other Cities
in the U.S. and the World
“London’s
Warming: The Impacts of Climate Change on London” The City of London under Mayor Ken Livingstone commissioned a comprehensive study of the potential “threats and opportunities” from global warming, looking at different levels of carbon dioxide emissions in the years 2020, 2050 and 2080. The study concludes that London must take decisive action to reduce emissions, or else face increased flood risk, decreased water resources and dirtier air.
City
of London – Action Today to Protect Tomorrow: The Mayor’s Climate Change Action
Plan In his action plan for reducing London’s greenhouse gas emissions, Mayor Livingstone contends that residents do not need to lower their standard of living in order to do their part. The key, he concludes, is a combination of conservation and efficiency, including strict standards on polluting automobiles and an emphasis on the bus and subway.
Boulder, CO Carbon TaxLast November, Boulder became the first municipality in the country to impose an energy tax on residents to combat global warming. This article outlines the details of that tax and its role in Boulder’s broader efforts. Palo Alto, CA -- Greenhouse Gas Reduction PlanSan
Francisco, CA --
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan Santa
Monica, CA -- Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Plan
Seattle,
WA -- Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan
Portland,
OR -- Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan
Salt
Lake City, UT -- Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Plan
Denver,
CO -- Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan
Cambridge,
MA -- Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan
Medford,
MA -- Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan
Burlington, VT -- Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan 3. Plans from
Organizations
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