Transcript CAC - Presentation on Emissions Reduction Target

Climate Change Action—Setting a
Target for Greenhouse Gas
Emissions Reduction in Mount Kisco
Context
• Threat posed by climate change
• New York State’s role in fighting climate
change
• NYS Climate Smart Communities program
• NYS emissions reduction goals
Existential Threat?
• The ability to adapt beyond a 4C (7.2F),
increase of average global temperature above
pre-industrial levels appears to be uncertain.
• According to a number of scientific studies,
without adequate reduction in greenhouse
gas emissions it is likely 4C (7.2F) will be
surpassed during the second half of this
century.
• Unstoppable global warming.
The Big Picture
• New York State and California are leaders
among the states in fighting climate change.
• These two states can serve as models for
other states.
• Successful efforts in New York State may be
key for convincing other states to follow.
Local Governments
• New York State needs local governments to
participate in order to succeed.
• The Climate Smart Communities program was
created to help local governments participate.
• Climate Smart Communities have taken the
Climate Smart Communities pledge.
Climate Smart Communities
The Pledge
1. Pledge to be a Climate Smart Community
2. Set goals, inventory emissions, plan for climate
action
3. Decrease community energy use
4. Increase community use of renewable energy
5. Realize Benefits of recycling and other climate smart
solid-waste management practices
6. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions through use of
climate-smart land-use tools
The Pledge
7. Enhance community resilience and prepare
for the effects of climate change
8. Support development of a green innovation
economy
9. Inform and inspire the public
10. Commit to an evolving process of climate
action
Bedford Climate Action Plan
NYS GHG Emissions Reduction Goal
• The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
• Governor David Patterson signed an executive
order with this goal in 2009.
• This is a more ambitious goal than President
Obama has set for the United States which is
80% below 2005 levels by 2050.
Mount Kisco’s GHG Emissions for 2010
• Greenhouse gas inventory prepared for
NYSERDA by IFC International
• Total emissions = 122,765 metric tons CO2
equivalent
• Metric ton = approx. 2,205 pounds
• CO2 equivalent – all greenhouse gases are
expressed in terms of carbon dioxide
Emissions by Category (MTCO2eqiv)
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Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Mobile energy
Solid Waste
Wastewater treatment
Industrial processes
Agriculture
Energy supply
25,174 (20.5%)
36,158 (29.5%)
3,324 (2.7%)
47,809 (38.9%)
631 (0.5%)
1,056 (0.9%)
4,037 (3.2%)
29 (0.002%)
4,545 (3.7%)
Targets for Reducing Emissions
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Bedford
Cortland
Dobbs Ferry
Mount Kisco
New Castle
New Rochelle
Tarrytown
Yonkers
20% below 2010 level by 2020
15% below 2010 level by 2025
20% below ? level by 2020
20% below 2007 level by 2015
20% below 2005 level by 2015
20% below
? level by 2030
20% below
? level by 2020
20% below 2005 level by 2020
Recommended Target
• 30% below 2010 level by 2025
(target = 85,936 MTCO2eqiv)
• Data available for baseline year of 2010
• Target can be modified if more recent baseline
data becomes available or for other reasons.
• An average of 2% reduction per year is similar
to the goals of some other communities.