CFE agenda 121216 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

data and including these types of programs in emissions accounting could result in measurable progress towards the climate action goal. Conclusion #1, electricity use and generation: Reducing emissions from electricity use can be pursued with a two pronged approach: improved energy efficiency in buildings and accelerated uptake in renewable energy generation. As mentioned in the section on buildings, reductions in per capita emissions from the improved energy efficiency is occurring, but at a rate about half as fast as needed to achieve the 50% reduction goal. Given current constraints, it is unlikely that solar installations in Carrboro can account for a majority or perhaps even a significant percentage of the remaining desired reductions in emissions by 2025. At the same time, at a minimum and with no major intervention, it is likely that small, incremental progress will continue. The success of the Solarize campaigns demonstrates the potential for more rapid progress, especially with new state or federal level policy changes and /or innovations to address current financing challenges. Food Consumption The food choices that community members make has an impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Adopting more plant- based, local, and organic diets is a viable means that individuals can choose that has an immediate climate mitigation impact. Based on the limited amount of historical attention to inventorying emissions from food choices and consumption in Carrboro, it is beyond the scope of this memo to attempt to assess emissions reduction potential associated with community scale food choices beyond what is discussed above (in "Emissions Estimates from Household Consumption ") and from the input provided in the plan's recommendations.20 Conclusion #1. Assessing food related emissions associated with community engagement towards a 50% reduction goal at a community scale will require additional work on the accounting methods and data sources. The latest draft of the plan includes a section that addresses this. Other Recommendations in the Draft Community Climate Action Plan Additional recommendations in the draft plan pertain primarily to climate adaptation and resilience through urban forestry, stormwater, and landscape management, but they also relate to climate mitigation by acknowledging the carbon sequestration benefits of the community forest. The recommendation relating to increasing the rate of organic waste collection and composting 20 e.g., Scarborough P., Appleby P.N., Mizdrak A., et al. "Dietary greenhouse gas emissions of meat- eaters, fish- eaters, vegetarians and vegans in the UK". Climatic Change. 2014;125(2):179 -192. This UK study found that the mean GHG emissions (lbs. CO2e /day) ranged from 15.8 for high meat - eaters to 6.4 for vegans, with progressively lower emissions between these two being estimated for medium meat eaters, low meat eaters, fish eaters, and vegetarians. There is some uncertainty in extrapolating a UK study to Carrboro given the different populations and potential for differences in diet. E