Ben Rasmussen

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Ben Rasmussen Senior Program Officer ICLEI
Local Governments for Sustainability Citizens
and Local Government Advisory Committees Washingto
n, DC May 9, 2008
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Mission

• Our mission is to build, serve and drive a
  movement
• of local governments to advance deep reductions
  in
• greenhouse gas emissions and achieve tangible
• improvements in local sustainability.

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Benefits of these Types of Programs

• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
• Improved air and water quality
• Reduced municipal operating costs
• Reduced traffic congestion
• Create local jobs
• Improved quality of life
• Save money

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ICLEI USA Network

• More than 400 member local governments
• Representing more than 25 of the population

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Chesapeake Bay Area Members

• Maryland
• Annapolis
• Baltimore
• Chevy Chase
• College Park
• Gaithersburg
• Howard County
• Hyattsville
• Montgomery County
• Mount Rainier
• Prince Georges County
• Queen Annes County
• Rockville
• Takoma Park

• Washington, DC
• Pennsylvania
• Haverford
• Lower Makefield
• Narberth
• Nether Providence
• Philadelphia County
• Pittsburgh
• Radnor
• West Chester
• Upper Dublin Township

• Virginia
• Albemarle County
• Alexandria
• Arlington County
• Blacksburg
• Charlottesville
• Frederick County
• Harrisonburg
• Norfolk
• Roanoke
• Roanoke County
• Warrenton

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The Connection Between Greenhouse Gas Emissions
and Water Quality

• Air pollutants that degrade water quality
  include
• Nitrogen oxides
• Sulfur dioxide
• Chemical contaminants

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The Connection Between Greenhouse Gas Emissions
and Water Quality
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How do Members Benefit from Working with ICLEI?

• National and international
• network of peers
• Emissions Analysis Software
• and Decision Support Tool
• ICLEI Trainings and Events

• Technical, policy, and
• communications assistance
• Resources, resources,
• resources

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ICLEI Toolkits, Publications, Templates

• Climate Action Handbook
• Adaptation Guidebook
• Milestone Guide
• Transportation and Land Use Toolkit
• Urban Forestry Toolkit
• Green Fleets Guide
• Local Climate Programs
• Example Ordinances
• Resolution, Inventory and Action Plan
  Templates
• www.icleiusa.org

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A Two-Pronged Approach

• Mitigation
• Focuses on GHG reduction programs beginning
  with baseline inventories, goal setting, action
  plan development and implementation.
• Adaptation
• Focuses on building resiliency to climate
  change impacts through identifying vulnerable
  sectors, goal setting, and preparedness planning.

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Climate Mitigation at the Local Level
Solid Waste Energy Use
Transportation

• Local government policies affect all major
  sources of greenhouse gas emissions

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The 5 Milestone Process
Make Commitment
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Local Government Greenhouse Gas Protocol

• Guidance on
• What to count
• How to count
• How to represent
• Community-scale analysis
• Government operations
• Emissions inventories
• Program and policy-based emissions reductions

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What Actions are Cities Taking?

• Energy Efficiency (retrofits, ordinances,
  procurement)
• Renewable Energy (solar, wind, grid purchases)
• Energy Generation (cogeneration, districting)
• Smart Growth and TOD (zoning, infill)
• Alternative Fuel Efficient Vehicles
  (biodiesel, CNG)
• Trip Reduction Programs (car shares,
  telecommuting)
• Waste Reduction (recycling, composting)
• Urban Forestry (planting, management)

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Cities in Action Gainesville, FLTraffic Signals

• LED Traffic Light Conversion
• Annual savings
• 250 tons CO2e
• 923 lbs NOx
• 1,218 lbs SOx
• Traffic Light Sequencing (Planned)
• Annual savings
• 91,691 tons CO2e
• 643,519 lbs NOx
• 34,221 lbs SOx

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Cities in ActionTransportation Alternatives

• Transit Improvements in Gainesville, FL, amounted
  to annual savings of
• 6,150 tons of CO2
• 43,163 lbs. NOx
• 2,295 lbs. SOx

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Cities in Action Gainesville, FLLandfill Gas to
EnergyAnnual savings of 4,179 tons of CO2
15,443 lbs. of NOx 20,376 lbs. of SOx
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• Cities in Action Gainesville, FLCombined Cycle
  Generation Gainesville Regional Utility
• Annual savings
• 108,204 tons of CO2
• 399,854 lbs. of NOx
• 527,586 lbs. of SOx

Energy Efficient Transformers

• 19,302 tons of CO2
• 71,328 lbs. NOx
• 94,114 lbs. SOx

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Renewable Energy
Solar Energy generates electricity off the
grid, providing an independent energy source to
homes, businesses and municipal
buildings/operations.

• Gainesville, FL,  Solar PV Systems amount to
  reductions of
• 17 tons of CO2
• 63 lbs. of NOx
• 83 lbs. of SOx

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Energy Efficiency
Ordinances shape municipal policy and provide
guidelines for how to save energy.

• Conservation measures in Gainesville, FL,
  amount to reductions of
• 106,519 tons CO2e
• 393,628 lbs. NOx
• 519,371 lbs. SOx

Retrofits can help save on costs and dramatically
reduce emissions.
Police Department upgrades in Gainesville,
FL, amount to reductions of 943 tons
CO2e 3,485 lbs. NOx 4,598
lbs. SOx
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33,917 tons of CO2 Offset per Year
Cities in Action Gainesville, FL10,000 Acres of
Forest Preservation
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Cities in Action Gainesville, FLTotal Current
Savings
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On the horizon

• The Climate and Air Pollution Planning Assistant
• Next Generation Software
• STAR Community Index
• Media and Communications Support
• Enhanced Website
• ICLEI Training Sessions and Events

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Questions?
Ben Rasmussen Senior Program Officer ben.rasmussen
_at_iclei.org 617-850-9042 www.iclei-usa.org