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U.S. Cities and Climate Change: Great Potential or Just Great PR? Kent E. Portney, Political Science Dept Prepared for Presentation to the Tufts Climate Change Literacy Conference January 15, 2008 Environmental Zoning in Seattle Eco-Village Cleveland Brownfield redevelopment in Dallas and Pittsburgh Underground hazardous materials storage tank removal in San Jose The Climate Change Programs and Cities International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Climate Protection Program http://www.iclei.org/index.php?id=800 Cities for Climate Protection, U.S. Partners http://www.iclei.org/index.php?id=1118 The Clinton Foundation Climate Initiative http://www.clintonfoundation.org/cf-pgm-cci-home.htm Working with the C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group http://www.c40cities.org/ The U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement – 772 mayor have signed to date http://usmayors.org/climateprotection/agreement.htm Climate Protection Center http://usmayors.org/climateprotection/about.htm The Elements of Cities’ Climate Change Policies "Smart Growth" Activities 1. Eco-industrial park development 2. Cluster or targeted economic development 3. Eco-village project or program Land Use Planning Programs, Policies, and Zoning 4. Comprehensive land use plan that includes environmental issues 5. Tax incentives for environmentally friendly development 6. Zoning used to delineate environmentally sensitive growth areas Transportation Planning Programs and Policies 7. Operation of public transit (buses and/or trains) 8. Limits on downtown parking spaces or free parking for hybrid and alternatively fueled vehicles 9. Car pool lanes (diamond or HOV lanes) 10. Alternatively fueled city vehicle program 11. Bicycle ridership program Pollution Prevention and Reduction Efforts 12. Air pollution reduction program (i.e. VOC reduction) Energy and Resource Conservation/Efficiency Initiatives 13. Green building program 14. Renewable energy use by city government 15. Energy conservation effort (other than Green building program) 16. Alternative energy offered to consumers (bio-diesel, solar, wind, biogas, etc.) So what are cities actually doing? Exemplary City Programs Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan “Toward a Sustainable Seattle” incorporates an assessment of each city government function’s impact on air emissions, and sets specific annual goals for reductions Exemplary City Programs Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan “Toward a Sustainable Seattle” incorporates an assessment of each city government function’s impact on air emissions, and sets specific annual goals for reductions The City of New York, as part of its PlaNYC, has the most extensive green city building program in the world Exemplary City Programs Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan “Toward a Sustainable Seattle” incorporates an assessment of each city government function’s impact on air emissions, and sets specific annual goals for reductions The City of New York, as part of its PlaNYC, has the most extensive green city building program in the world Grand Rapids has invested in a bio-diesel facility that allows the city to collect used cooking oil from restaurants, refine it in bulk, and use it as fuel for all its diesel powered machinery Exemplary City Programs Austin Texas, which owns Austin Energy, operates a 200 wind turbine farm in West Texas, and now generates 665 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough to power 55,000 Austin homes Exemplary City Programs Austin Texas, which owns Austin Energy, Inc., operates a 200 wind turbine farm in West Texas, and now generates 665 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough to power 55,000 Austin homes It provides a “greenchoice option” for residential customers, guaranteeing the electric rate for 10 years. Exemplary City Programs Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE) in Boulder, CO, is a multi-government publicprivate partnership focused on pollution prevention, especially reduction in greenhouse gas emissions Works with small businesses to train owners and employees on ways to reduce emissions, and certifies businesses that receive training and make changes Impacts documented in Annual Reports http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/www/pace/ind ex.html Other Cities • Many other cities are doing comparable programs, including – Chicago – San Francisco – Albuquerque – Los Angeles – San Jose – Cambridge – Many many others -- Scottsdale -- Chattanooga -- Portland OR -- Jacksonville -- Indianapolis -- Minneapolis