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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClimate Action Presentation WRIRRMMM City of Port Angeles Climate Action Group Presentation Presented by members of Olympic Climate Action IMMERMEM Olympic Climate Action ! Who are we? IMMERMEM Let's bring it back to the basics Global Warming: Global warming Climate Change: Climate change refers refers to the long-term warming of the to a broad range of global phenomena planet since the early 20th century, and created predominantly by burning fossil most notably since the late 1970s, due to fuels the increase in fossil fuel emissions since the Industrial Revolution. REEMNIMMM Types of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions • Carbon Dioxide (CO2) • Fluorinated Gases (HFC) O Combustion O Refrigeration O Processing O Freezing and Freeze-production O Terrain Alteration processes O Natural Processes O Air Conditioning • Methane (CH4) O Improper disposal of tools used O Fracking for the above O Standing water, bogs, rice production O Ruminant livestock gases O Burning wild and agrarian lands We know it's happening. We know humans are exacerbating the effects of climate change What can we do about it? REEMNEEM Some of the Big Ideas in Climate Change Policy - Adaptation vs Mitigation policy - Climate action within city government vs. community climate action - Marginal cost & "low-hanging fruit" - "Triple Bottom Line" goal of environmental, social, economic benefits - Climate Justice - Targets & assessments/inventories to measure progress NONNIMEM Climate Change Policy: Mitigation vs Adaptation According to NASA; "Responding to climate change involves two possible approaches: reducing and stabilizing the levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere ('mitigation') and/or adapting to the climate change already in the pipeline ('adaptation')"'. Mitigation policy is an attempt to prevent further accumulation of negative feedback from climate change, whereas, Adaptation policy acknowledges a certain level of inevitable change due to previous and current GHG emissions and sets to respond to the impacts of climate change that we are already experiencing. ' https://climate.nasa.gov/solutions/adaptation-mitigation/ Examples of Adaptation Policies Adaptation policies are designed to respond to the impacts of climate change, e.g., wildfire preparedness or changes to shoreline infrastructure. - Installing water-permeable pavements - not only will this reduce runoff and improve water storage and use in the short-term, this adaptive policy will allow coastal communities to better deal with increasing floods and stormwater as weather events intensify. IIIIINEEM Examples of Mitigation Policies Mitigation policies are designed to minimize the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, e.g., growing trees or improving building efficiency. - Carbon sequestration through tree plantings - while important in preventing further emissions (and increasingly strong negative feedback cycles), this action is not adaptive in that it doesn't create strategies to live with climate change effects that will already occu r. NOMMEMEM What makes municipal and community planning strategies effective? • There must be strong cohesion between operations on the municipal level and actions taken by local communities in order to both discuss and implement climate change policies in an impactful way. • Effective planning is tailored to the relevant region and is informed by accurate, regionally specific scientific data. In Clallam county, developing forest and coastal management practices which account for GHG reduction, wildlife habitat conservation, and rising sea level are among the most scientifically researched and promising areas of focus for city planners and community organizers. NOMMEMEM What kinds of policies would be most effective in our region? A comprehensive climate action plan will implement both mitigation and adaptation policies, to minimize the rate at which climate change will occur and affect us, and to create innovative solutions to effects we will be unable to avoid. In Clallam County, we may face rising sea levels, salt-water intrusion into aquifers, increasing flooding, changes in habitat and species distribution, ocean acidification and increasingly severe coastal storms. We must proactively identify vulnerable areas, monitor for changing conditions, and create and apply adaptation plans that connect policies to management goals. For example, plan to build storm- resistant infrastructure or fortify waterfront areas and wetlands against flooding. https://www.epa.gov/cre/climate-change-coastal-communities NONMEMEM How to Integrate Climate Policy into Port Angeles Community Planning Some notable benefits: Start by using climate change language and policies in development plans: - Provide greater access with less vehicle emissions • - Reduce walking distance for commuters - Expand public transportation - Develop a more compact city - Cut down on road construction and maintenance costs, - Plan for alternative transportation - Minimize overall transportation expenditures - Initiate community solar projects - Provide clean energy to homes and businesses with greater equality of access - Promote jobs and economic growth in the solar industry NONERMEM Marginal costs Et " Low-hanging fruit" • What is the biggest return we can get for our investment? • Low-hanging fruit O Policies that that can be implemented with relatively low costs, on an individual level. ■ Caulking windows ■ Insulating attics NOMMIMEM "Triple bottom line " • Evaluates gains not only in economic profit, but also in People and Planet, each weighted equally • A successful investment will yield O Economic returns O Egalitarian social progress O Environmental Stewardship • Examples include: O Voluntary LEED building certifications O Green Jobs initiatives O A strong Climate Action Plan NOMMIMMM Climate Justice "Climate Justice" is a concept recognizing that people who have been most marginalized in society and are the most vulnerable often will be impacted the most by climate change at the same time that they have contributed the least to the problem. Climate solutions need to not only solve the climate crisis but also to mitigate the inequities. Greenhouse Gas Inventories • Free through ICLEI's ClearPath • JeffCo participated in this study Did we miss anything?