AGENDA DATE: 9/18/2019
TITLE:
Climate Action Planning Phase 1 Update
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Climate Action Planning Phase 1 Update
ITEM TYPE: Regular Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Henry, Kamptner, Stewart, Harper, Lowe, and Turner
PRESENTER (S): Andy Lowe and Narissa Turner
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: On September 6, 2017 the Board adopted a Resolution to “Reaffirm Commitment to Support Local Action to Reduce Climate Pollution” and on September 5, 2018 the Board authorized signature of the Open Letter - “We Are Still In” Declaration to support the Paris Agreement on climate change. Staff presented the Climate Action Planning (CAP) Phase 1 process on June 6, 2018 and last updated the Board on March 20, 2019. The Phase 1 process involves developing long-term community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets and high-level strategies to achieve these reductions. Since staff’s last update in March, staff has been working with the Steering Team, Coordination Team, and Emission Sector Teams to help develop draft material for the CAP. Staff has also hosted 12 Climate Mondays, a series of open public meetings every Monday evening from May through July focused on specific climate topics.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Board of Supervisor’s Prioritized FY20-22 Strategic Plan: Climate Action Planning - Development of phase 1 Climate Action Plan to include high level goal and strategies focused around climate protection and resiliency.
DISCUSSION: The CAP will include the means - grouped as goals, strategies, and actions - by which the community can act towards achieving the GHG reduction targets. Draft strategies have been developed by the Emission Sector Teams and have been shared for public/stakeholder feedback during the Climate Monday meetings and through an online response form. These strategies are summarized in Attachment A. These draft strategies will be refined in the coming months to create a cohesive “action” component of the CAP.
GHG reduction targets set the tone for the CAP by expressing the aspirations of the community in reducing the net amount of GHGs emitted over time. At the March 20, 2019 Board meeting, staff presented the targets recommended by the Steering Team - to adopt the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommendation of reducing community-wide greenhouse gasses 45% by 2030 and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The IPCC recommendation meets the intent of the Paris Agreement goal of keeping average global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. These recommendations are further explained in Attachment B. The Charlottesville City Council adopted the IPCC recommendation on July 1, 2019. Staff has prepared a draft Resolution adopting this recommendation (Attachment C) for the Board to consider for future action.
The County will need to track progress on the adopted GHG emission reduction targets by conducting periodic community-wide GHG emission inventories. Staff completed GHG inventories for calendar year 2000, 2006, and 2008. These inventories were conducted using a software platform developed by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). The latest version of this platform - ClearPath - is the leading online platform for completing GHG inventories and is currently used by many other Virginia localities, including the City of Charlottesville. ClearPath is available to ICLEI members - along with technical support and many other climate-related resources - at an annual cost of $1,750; non-members can use the software (without support) for $7,500 annually. Additional information about ICLEI membership in provided in Attachment D. The County was an ICLEI member from 2007 through June 8, 2011 when the former Board voted to rescind membership.
BUDGET IMPACT: The cost of the GHG inventory software is $1,750 annually with ICLEI membership or $7,500 annually for non-members. Staff intends to begin implementing climate-related initiatives - such as energy upgrades to County buildings - through separate CIP requests.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board authorize the County to again become a member of ICLEI and to assign a representative from the Board to serve as the membership contact. Staff also recommends that the Board direct staff to add the Resolution to Establish Community-wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Target (Attachment C) to a future Board meeting for its consideration and approval.
ATTACHMENTS:
Att. A - Draft CAP recommendation poster
Att. B - IPCC GHG reduction goal Information
Att. C - 9.18.19 Green House Gas Emission Resolution
Att. D - ICLEI-USA membership information