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This goal is a meaningful reduction in carbon /greenhouse gas pollution that is consistent with the scientific recommendations calling for the large emission reductions needed to reduce the risk of dangerous climate change. It is both ambitious and achievable with the support of the Town and community. It is framed in per- capita terms to recognize that Carrboro continues to attract new residents and businesses and to make it easy for any individual, business, or organization to measure and demonstrate their progress toward the goal. Investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy offer very favorable returns and substantial reductions in energy costs. This can power a virtuous cycle, where more energy costs are reduced and more income is available for local consumers and businesses. It is possible that many people will sense that the goal is too ambitious: too much change too quickly. Richard Heinberg recently concluded that, globally, we can achieve at least a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions in 10 to 20 years." While there are challenges (e.g., dropping petroleum prices, technology advances allowing for new extraction practices), there are also external factors that will help, most notably a rising global awareness and conviction. Solar power is accelerating; fuel economy standards will likely continue to reduce gasoline use. The proliferation of more energy efficient lighting, appliances and heating /cooling equipment is already reducing household energy use, and transportation options with smaller emissions footprints are expanding. 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The U.S. Department of Energy has developed a "Guide to Community Strategic Energy Planning" that identifies two types of planning efforts: one focusing on the government operations and one focusing on the community at large. The former: includes a focus on government buildings, facilities, infrastructure, and transportation; concentrates on activities for which the government has direct influence — e.g., personnel, planning, and budgeting — which means tighter control over implementation. The latter (community -wide plan) is a broader plan to address activities that: expands the focus to include energy saving activities across the jurisdiction (residential, commercial, industrial, transportation, and other sectors) of the broader community; recognizes that, while local government actions can greatly influence, energize, and leverage effective activities in the broader community, the government has less direct control over these activities in comparison to a government -only plan. This plan focuses on the community -wide plan. 12 Appendix 2 provides a hypothetical example of how a household can become carbon neutral in 10 years. Appendix 3 presents a discussion of how to approach this goal from a social and psychological perspective. 7