climate action plan

In this episode of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic, father-daughter duo, Ted and Sierra Flanigan host the clean energy crash course focusing on the Emissions Time Bomb.

They start at the very genesis, when EcoMotion was hired to conduct GHG inventories and climate action plans in the Coachella Valley. To demonstrate to the communities how carbon emissions are compounding, and problems that are caused, Ted decided to come up with a representation of the average person in California's carbon footprint - 1 metric ton of CO2 per month. 

After some research, the vision was born and the EcoMotion team decided to build the display to scale, calling it the Emissions Time Bomb, which served a really important purpose in raising awareness. Ted and Sierra then get into the details: how to simulate the graphic, reaching out to bounce house technology and experts and inflatable vendors, how to master the accuracy of calculations in the display, and cost.

They also discuss the ultimate use, which was to raise awareness about climate issues in the communities, as well as creating the full fledged Save a Ton campaign. The goal of the campaign was to try to get people to save 1 ton, or 1/12th of their annual emissions. 

While its primary use was in the Coachella Valley for work funded by Southern California Edison, the Bomb was used in many cities in Southern California and even made a road trip to New England, where it ended its eight-campus tour at Yale University.

Ted concludes by sharing that the Emissions Time Bomb ultimately fulfilled its mission and is now looking for a new home! He asks listeners to reach out if they know of any organizations that would have interest in the donation. 

According to the UN, cities generate up to 75 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions - so we know that cities are the key to unlocking many of our much-needed climate solutions. While larger cities with greater population densities have bigger ecological footprints, emissions are being generated by all cities from around the world; small but mighty cities have a critical role to play too. We all share the same coastlines, and we all breathe the same air - and it might be time to look to smaller cities who are leading the way on climate change to see what else we can be doing. 

Featured guests:

Mayor Melissa Blaustein was elected to the city council of Sausalito in 2020, and has been Mayor since 2023. Since becoming Mayor, she has pushed for Sausalito’s own climate action plan - which is vitally important for cities of any size, especially when you’re as close to the ocean as Sausalito. From addressing sea level rise, to electrifying the city’s transportation operations, Sausalito is proving beyond a doubt that they can keep up with their C40 neighbour, San Francisco.

Mayor Michael Cahill was elected as the 34th mayor of the City of Beverly, Massachusetts in 2013. Beverly might be a smaller, quieter suburb to the C40 city of Boston, but the city is driving some big sustainable ideas: from harnessing solar and geothermal technology, to petitioning the state to support much-needed green infrastructure, they’re another shining example of a small but mighty C40 neighbour who is leading the way on city climate action. 

Links for this episode:

Better together: How cities can collaborate for faster, more effective climate action

Sausalito Low Emissions Action Plan

Redlining’s Legacy Of Inequality: Low Homeownership Rates, Less Equity For Black Households

Fossil gas research

Solar power in Beverly

Solved by David Miller

Climate Mayors Network

Image credit: © Lizzie Lomax - C40

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Cities 1.5 is a podcast by University of Toronto Press and is produced in association with the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy.

Our executive producers are Dali Carmichael and Peggy Whitfield.
Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/
Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

In this episode, Jacinta McDonnell, Corporate Finance Manager, NewERA, John Dillon, Head of NewERA and JP Corkery, Senior Manager, NewERA, discuss the Climate Action Framework for the commercial semi-State sector. The Climate Action Framework is designed to help ensure that commercial semi-State companies can play a lead role in Ireland’s transition to a carbon neutral economy and society, while also recognising the need for commercial independence in their respective operating environments.

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Having met their initial goal of 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 (from a 2005 baseline), officials in Fort Collins, Colorado, realized they needed to do something transformational to hit their next goal of 80% reduction by 2030. We interview Energy Services Manager John Phelan and Climate Program Manager Honoré Depew from the City of Fort Collins about how they are implementing their new people centered approach to climate action.

Resources

• Fort Collins Climate Action webpage
• Community Consultant Project Descriptions
• Climate Action Dashboard
• Community Carbon Inventory

What are microgrids and how can they save money, reduce air pollution and provide carbon-free power and backup power? We interview Rachel DiFranco, Fremont's Sustainability Manager about the trail they blazed five years ago when they installed microgrids on three fire stations. And we're joined by Menlo Park Council Member Cecilia Taylor and Menlo Spark Executive Director Diane Bailey, to talk about how they are integrating a microgrid into the rebuild of a Menlo Park community center.

Resources

• Fremont Sustainability page
• CA.gov info on Fremont Microgrid project
• MicrogridKnowledge.com article
• Gridscape website
• Webinar done by Fremont and Gridscape
• Fremont Green Challenge
• Menlo Park main website page and climate action plan page
• Menlo Spark
• New community center breaks ground - article
• Case studies, backgrounder, and slide deck on Fremont and Menlo Park

In this episode of Think Fast, Suchita is joined by Amit Doshi, Founder of IVM Podcasts. They discuss the recent developments in the quick commerce industry in India, especially when Zomato & Blinkit are eying a merger and try to bring in some examples from abroad to see how are they faring; Trell was under some trouble recently with its investors and basis that there was going to be downsizing, they discuss these happenings and how CEOs should manage such situations; SEBI drafting new rules for IPOs and how positively or negatively will they affect; Mumbai's new climate action plan, No Coding Software like Webflow and much more.

For the Deep-Dive segment, Amit tells us about the rise in Audio apps, the evolution of audio content, and what the future looks like.

Amit Recommends: Book: Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Suchita Recommends: Show: WeCrashed

Find Amit on Instagram & Twitter

You can follow Varun Duggirala on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/varunduggi and on Instagram at https://instagram.com/varunduggi

You can follow Suchita Salwan on Twitter at https://twitter.com/suchitasalwan and on Instagram at https://instagram.com/suchitasalwan

You can follow IVM Podcasts on social media. We are @IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.

You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcasts App on Android or iOS.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keene NH, population 23K, has been leading on climate action for over two decades. While their first formal action was in 2000, they've since done a Climate Action Plan, Climate Adaptation Plan, and now a Sustainable Energy Plan. We interview Mayor George Hansel and Planner Mari Brunner, to learn about the powerful alliance of citizens, elected officials, and staff that has pushed Keene forward. 

Resources

• Jan 2021 Sustainable Energy Plan
  • Webpage
  • Plan document
  • Jan 2019 Resolution - led to the Sustainable Energy Plan
• Keene Energy Week
• Energy & Climate Committee
• Keene Sustainability webpage
• Keene Local Stories (including podcast like recordings - halfway down page)
• 21 in 21 Program
• Article in local paper about 21 in 21
• 2007 Climate Adaptation plan
• 2004 Climate Action Plan

ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability, has been helping local governments with climate action for three decades. Learn how they're evolving with some exciting new tools, cohorts, and programs. And hear how the Race to Zero is showing cities that it's possible to cut carbon emissions 60% in 8 years. We interview Executive Director Angie Fyfe, Sr. Program Officer Kale Roberts, and Zero Carbon Cities Advisor Josh Radoff.

Resources

• ICLEI USA website
• Race to Zero webpage
• Race to Zero white paper
• LEARN Forest and Trees Emissions Mapping Tool
• ICLEI Atlas of Sustainability Action Planning

Eugene Oregon has some hugely impressive trees and canopy management tools. We interview City of Eugene Urban Foresters Scott Altenhoff and Heidi Lakics, and learn how trees are intimately woven into Eugene's climate action plan and how Giant Sequoias are a key part of their urban forest.

Resources:

• Interactive map of Eugene street & park trees
• TreePlotter Canopy Tool (new) produced by Plan-it Geo
• American Forests Tree Equity Score tool
• Eugene Climate Action Plan 2.0
• Mapping Eugene's urban heat island
• Approved street tree list and planting guide
• 2021 Giant Sequoias in 2021 - video
• Eugene tree stories
• The Biocycle Farm and biochar production at the farm

We interview now college freshman Dylan Steury about his role, and the role of young people in general, in Goshen climate action. Hear about how he and his peers presented to City Council and got their unanimous support.

For more information and links check out episode 5.

Goshen is a northern Indiana city of 35,000 people that has had a Republican majority City Council and a Democratic mayor for decades. Yet they've made strong progress on climate action. Learn how (hint - young people played a significant role).

Check out our bonus youth episode where we talk to one of the student leaders that helped inspire the Council to action.

Resources

• Goshen Climate Action Planning webpage
• Climate Action Plan presentation to City Council - June 2020
• Mayor Stutsman's letter to City Council establishing Dept of Environmental Resilience
• Ordinance establishing the Department of Environmental Resilience
• Goshen greenhouse gas emission inventories (city operations and community)

High School students in St. Louis Park, MN initiated what became the most aggressive climate action plan in the state. Abby interviews co-host Larry Kraft about how youth forever changed the course of the city and how they remain involved.

Check out our bonus episode where we interview St. Louis Park youth leaders.

More Information and Links

• City of St. Louis Park website
• St. Louis Park Climate Action Plan adopted by St. Louis Park City council on  2/5/2018
• Climate Inheritance Resolution adopted by St. Louis Park City Council on 5/16/2016
• Climate Leadership Resolution adopted by St. Louis Park School Board on  5/10/2019
• High School Students present to St. Louis Park City Council on 3/21/2016, starting the process that led to St. Louis Park's Climate Action Plan.

Youth from the St Louis Park High School Environmental Club initiated St. Louis Park's Climate Action Plan over five years ago and remain involved today. We interview the leader that started the work five years ago and the current leader of the club.

For more information and links, check out Episode 3.

What does it look like to engage in a just transition? How can city climate action benefit from inclusive engagement? How do you change an entrenched fossil fuel story about the Alaskan economy? We interview Ruth Miller of Native Movement, Polly Carr of the Alaska Center, Kendra Closter of Native Peoples Action, and Shaina Kilcoyne with the City of Anchorage and learn about the impact local entities can have when they work together to address big issues.

Make sure to also check out our Anchorage youth episode where we interview 16 year old Emily Taylor about her climate story.

Resources:

• Anchorage Climate Action Plan
• Video: Restoring to Balance: Climate change and a vision for Alaska
• Native Peoples Action
• The Alaska Center
• Native Movement

Connor McGuigan, lead planner on the county’s multijurisdictional Climate Action Plan, joins host Tom Wheeler to talk about Humboldt’s biggest climate challenges, the development of the plan and more.

“We’re laser-focused on transportation emissions and building energy emissions, because those are the big things that local governments, in partnership with local communities, can really have an influence on,” McGuigan says.

• Humboldt County’s Climate Action Plan page.