THE ROLE OF CITIES IN CLIMATE CHANGE: The Problem and Solutions

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THE ROLE OF CITIES IN CLIMATE CHANGEThe
Problem and Solutions

• Carla Chifos, PhD, AICP
• Associate Professor of Sustainable Development
• School of Planning, University of Cincinnati
• Fulbright Scholar ISAE/FGV, Curitiba

O Papel das Cidades nas Mundanças Climáticas
Mobiliazação de Curitiba, FIEP e a Prefeitura
Municipal de Curitiba, 22 Outubro, 2009
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ROAD MAP

• I. SETTING THE STAGE
• II. PROBLEM The City and its Contributions
  to the Changing Climate
• III. SOLUTIONS City Initiatives to Mitigate
  and Adapt to Climate Change
• IV. SOLUTIONS Cleaner, Greener, Cooler
  Cities with Urban Planning

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I. SETTING THE STAGE
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CITIES TAKING LEAD ON ENVIRONMENT

• IN THE TOP TEN PLANNING ISSUES FOR 2007
• (based on number of articles, books, reports,
  studies, and editorials)
• Climate Change is increasingly the issue that is
  the umbrella under which cities are now seriously
  planning and implementing initiatives to green
  and clean urban areas and to become more cool
  and attractive places to live and invest in.

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GREENHOUSE EFFECT
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GREENHOUSE GASES (GHG)

• CO2 Burning fossil fuels (vehicles, electricity,
  heating, cooling)
• Burning biomass
• Deforestation
• CH4 Livestock
• Solid Waste Landfills
• Production of fossil fuels
• N2O Agriculture
• Burning fossil fuels
• Burning solid waste
• HCFC Refrigerants

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SOURCES
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IMPACTS
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Energy
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II. PROBLEM The City and its Contributions to
the Changing Climate
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GHG EMISSIONS IN CITIES

• Buildings
• Heating
• Cooling
• Electricity

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GHG EMISSIONS IN CITIES

• In US buildings account for
• 70 of electricity consumption
• 39 of energy use
• 39 of carbon dioxide emissions
• 40 of raw materials use
• 30 of waste output

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GHG EMISSIONS IN CITIES

• Transportation
• Vehicle Efficiency
• Fuel Type
• Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)

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GHG EMISSIONS IN CITIES
LAND USE Density Mix of Uses Road
Patterns Green/Landscape
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GHG EMISSIONS IN CITIES

• OTHER
• Solid Waste landfill methane
• transport of waste
• Landscaping fertilizers
• Water Use water cleaning and distribution
  and wastewater treatment

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CAN CITIES BE GOOD FOR ENVIRONMENT/CLIMATE?
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HOW CAN CITIES BE GOOD FOR ENVIRONMENT/CLIMATE?

• Density/Building Configurations
• Can reduce building energy use per person
• Density/Mixed Uses/Transport Options
• Can improve walkability
• Can reduce vehicle miles travelled
• Urban forestry/Open space preservation
• Can increase carbon sequestration
• Density/On-site or community energy generation
• Can build more efficient energy systems

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HOW MUCH TO REDUCE?

• 5 of 1990 levels by 2012 globally (Kyoto)
• 7 of 1990 levels by 2012 in US (Kyoto)
• 40 of 1990 levels by 2020 in industrial
  countries (Bali)
• 50 of 1990 levels by 2050 globally (Bali)
• 60-80 of 1990 by 2050 for global climate
  stabilization (multiple scientists)

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WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR A CITY?

• EXAMPLE OF CINCINNATI, OHIO
• 2006 population 378,000
• GOAL Reduce 10 from 2000 levels
• 901,100 tons CO2 over 4 years (2008-2012)
• 1 ton CO2 901,000 tons CO2 Per
  Person over 4 years
• - 114 gal gas - 103 mil gal gas -272
  gal gas
• - 1583 kwh - 1.4 bil kwh -2260 kwh
• - .18 car/yr - 162,200 cars/yr -.4 car
• - 680 lbs. waste - 612 mil lbs.
  waste -1619 lbs. waste
• 26 trees 23 mil trees 61
  trees
• .23 acres forest 207,253 acres
  forest .4 acres forest

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III. SOLUTIONSClimate Protection Initiatives
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CLIMATE PROTECTION
1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) 1993 ICLEI Cities for
Climate Protection Campaign 1994 UNFCCC in
force 1997 Kyoto Protocol text adopted 2005 Kyoto
in force 2005 US Mayors Climate Protection
Agreement 2006 California Legislation 2007
National Climate Change Registry 2007 Cool
Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration 2007
American College and University Presidents
Climate Commitment 2012 Kyoto Protocol binding
targets must be met
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STATE LEVEL
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COUNTY LEVEL
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CITY LEVEL
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WHY FOCUS ON CITIES?

• High contribution to the problem
• Over 75 of global energy use
• Over 80 of GHG emissions
• High probability of impact on more people
• Over 50 of worlds population is living on 1
  of the globe
• High potential to address the problem
• Local authority, urban planning process, closer
  connection to people
• (influence behaviors and shape development)

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IV. SOLUTIONS Cleaner, Greener, Cooler Cities
with Urban Planning
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PlaNYCNew York City, New York
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New York City

• Started as land management strategy
• Evolved into holistic approach to deal with
  issues of growth and aging infrastructure
• Integrated Climate Mitigation and Climate
  Adaptation into the overall sustainability plan

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New York City
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New York City

ADAPTATION Interagency task force to protect
vital infrastructure Identify and work with
vulnerable neighborhoods to develop site-specific
protection strategies Plan for adaptation
building codes floodplain management

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New York City Mitigation
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New York City

• Expected outcomes
• Improved air quality
• Improved water quality
• Better neighborhoods
• More trees and green space
• Accommodations for up to 1 million more people
• Reduce GHG by 30 by 2030
• www.nyc.gov/planyc

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CINCINNATI CLIMATE PROTECTION PLAN Cincinnati,
Ohio
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WHO WAS INVOLVED?

• Mayor
• City Council
• Office of Environmental Quality
• Climate Protection Coordinator
• Climate Protection Steering Committee (20
  volunteers)
• Climate Protection Task Teams (150 volunteers)
• Land Use
• Transportation
• Energy
• Waste
• Advocacy
• Public

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Climate Protection Planning Process Timeline
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(No Transcript)
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TRANSPORTATION Cincinnati

• Hybrid Buses
• Expanding Bus Service
• Car Sharing
• Electric Car Dealership
• Idle Reduction
• Bicycle Infrastructure and Programs
• Ride Sharing
• Complete Street

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LAND USECincinnati

• Green Construction Practices
• Reforestation
• Sustainable Community Agriculture
• Regional Trails/Greenway
• Regional Land Use Plan

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WASTE

• Increase Recycling
• Increase Reuse of Materials

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ENERGYCincinnati

• Lighting Changes (CFL and LED)
• LEED Building/High Performance Building
• Green Roofs/Cool Roofs
• Greenlight Districts
• Carbon Offsets
• Small-scale Alternative Energy Sources
• Cincinnati Conservation Corps

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ADVOCACY Cincinnati

• Local Climate Summit
• Marketing Campaign
• Public Education Program

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CLIMATE ACTION NETWORKS
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UNIVERSITY CLIMATE AGREEMENT
Cornell University 7 below 1990 levels by
2008 committed April 2001 UC Berkeley 1990
levels by 2014 committed May 2007 Yale
University 10 below 1990s levels by
2020 committed October 2005 Harvard University
30 below 2006 levels by 2016 committed July 2008
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PLAN THE CITY
SAVE THE PLANET ?
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CLIMATE PROTECTION PLANNING CAN..

• -- Significantly reduce GHG emissions
• -- Increase long term financial savings
• -- Meet sustainability objectives
• -- Meet smart growth objectives
• -- Coincide with good urban planning principles
• -- Create livable and desirable cities

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• CITIES CAN BE
• CLEAN
• GREEN
• COOL