How Developing Citywide Climate Action Plans Just Got Easier
How much greenhouse gas is your city emitting? Do you know the levels of pollution in your city’s air? These are questions that should be considered by mayors and community leaders in every city—as municipal officials take into consideration the health and wellness of their city’s residents. In Southern California, climate action plans are underway to address these issues, and officials are beginning to see signs of success.
While the blueprints for climate action is taking place at the local level, the effort cuts across multiple government agencies, and state and federal levels. For instance, a California State Assembly Bill requires cities meet a 15% reduction in GHG emissions, while a State Senate Bill simply requires cities to develop and enact climate action plans. A grant by Southern California Association of Governments is helping to provide cities with the resources to conduct emission inventories.
These efforts transcend conventional state and local lines, and help cities to successfully develop and implement climate action plans. The efforts help to expand public transportation options, facilitate energy efficiency retrofitting, and re-green urban areas. Ultimately they improve the lives of residents and make cities better places to live. To learn more about how local government officials and mayors can advance climate solutions, visit Path to Positive Communities!
Climate action plan aims to measure greenhouse gas emissions, reduce citywide pollution
By Sara Cardine | The Los Angeles Times | February 19, 2016
How much greenhouse gas do La Cañadans create in the course of their daily activities, and where might reductions be made? City officials are drafting a climate action plan to answer those questions and are asking for residents’ help.
Between now and May, city staff will be working, thanks to a $70,998 grant offered through the Southern California Assn. of Governments, to inventory the city’s collective greenhouse gas emissions in order to develop a suite of measures and regulations to reduce citywide pollution rates.