Conduct a Climate Assessment
“You cannot manage what you have not measured.”
Once you have taken some initial steps along your path, you can work to deepen your commitment by establishing benchmarks and pollution reduction goals. It is a fact that the most important step for local governments to take in managing their energy use and climate pollution is to measure their emissions and establish a baseline against which to measure future progress. Local governments typically establish a baseline for their own operations, called a government operations inventory, and for the community as a whole, called a community-wide inventory. These inventories use data collection and analysis to measure direct and indirect energy use, as well as waste generation and disposal, and calculate the climate pollution emissions associated with those activities. Once the baseline year and amount is established, local governments can enact measures aimed at reducing their operational footprint, and can also enact policies and programs aimed at reducing the footprints of businesses and residents from across the community. Access the resources below to begin conducting a climate assessment.
