SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Update and review Greenprint, the City's Sustainability Plan.
Body
SUMMARY:
In 2008, the City conducted its first inventory to measure its greenhouse gas emissions based on data from the previous year. This inventory included the municipal, residential, commercial, and industrial sectors within city limits. The study revealed that for the 2007 calendar year, citywide greenhouse gas emissions totaled 1,257,037 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCO2e).
Of the total emissions accounted for in the inventory, electricity consumption (63%) and transportation fuels (31%) were the largest greenhouse gas sources. Natural gas, municipal solid waste, propane, and wastewater treatment contributed only six percent of the total citywide emissions.
Upon understanding the quantity and sources of its emissions, the City was able to work with a consultant to devise an emission reduction plan that led to the creation of Greenprint. This sustainability plan was completed in 2011 and identified achievable strategies that could be implemented by residents, businesses, the industrial sector, and the municipal government to make Clearwater a thriving and sustainable community.
The two overarching goals of the initial Greenprint plan are:
1) To reduce city-wide greenhouse gas emission to 10% below 2007 levels by 2020
2) To reduce city-wide greenhouse gas emission to 25% below 2007 levels by 2035
Much has changed since the first greenhouse gas inventory and in order to determine if the city is on track to meet its 2020 goal, another inventory is necessary. The city will work with tools provided by ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) - Local Governments for Sustainability to conduct a second inventory.
While gathering data for the second inventory, the city will work to update Greenprint to ensure that it remains a living document. Intended updates include specifying goals using tangible metrics, strengthening commitments, indicating the status of each existing category, and including new strategies into the plan.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: N/A
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS: N/A