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Executive Summary <br />In 2009, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen passed a resolution committing the Town to take steps to <br />reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that are causing global climate change. In doing so, and through <br />work leading up to the resolution with other Orange County governments, the Town joined a group of <br />more than 1000 cities, towns and metropolises around the world who are taking part in the Cities for <br />Climate Protection Campaign. The campaign follows a 'Five Milestone' process that includes a <br />greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory, establishment of an emissions reduction target, <br />development and implementation of an action plan to reduce emissions, and monitoring of emissions <br />reductions measures. <br />This document expands on previous efforts, with an emphasis on completion of the second milestone — <br />further articulation of a reduction target, and the third milestone — the drafting of a Local Climate Action <br />Plan. In 2014, Carrboro developed a plan focusing on the Town's municipal operations. This plan is a <br />companion and follow up to that effort with an emphasis on measures that the broader community is <br />asked to take in order to achieve GHG reduction targets. The recommendations offered are intended to <br />reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while raising the community's awareness of and involvement in <br />solutions to global climate change and a post- carbon energy future, adaptation to changes and <br />enhancement of ecosystem resilience. <br />A significant recommendation of this report is for the Town and community to adopt a goal of a 50% <br />reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, as supported by a broad community campaign. <br />Additional recommendations are provided around the themes of community integration, energy <br />efficiency of buildings, transportation, renewable energy, and ecosystem protection and restoration. <br />Measures outlined in the Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions not only contribute to overall climate <br />change mitigation, but can also provide the community with many local benefits such as financial <br />savings through energy efficiency, the creation of new jobs, improved air quality and public health, and a <br />healthier forest and streams. <br />The degree to which the broad campaign advocated for in this plan takes off will depend on many <br />factors. The following direction is suggested to build momentum: 1) focused attention is needed to <br />more rapidly reduce energy use in buildings; 2) the Town needs to devote more resources towards <br />implementing the plan, starting with creating a Sustainability Coordinator position; 3) similarly, the <br />efforts underway to increase transit, bicycling and pedestrian modes of travel as well as vanpooling, <br />carpooling, and carsharing need to gain even more traction; 4) innovative efforts are needed to support <br />residents with limited opportunities for renewable energy; 5) grass roots efforts and new partnerships <br />need to be fostered; 6) the paradigm for local environmental /ecosystem protection and restoration <br />needs to expand to consider the stress of climate change; and 7) last not but not least, individuals, <br />businesses, and in effect the entire community need to take the recommendations in this report to <br />heart. <br />1 <br />