Inside Climate News: Individual plans for Cleveland and its neighbors include cutting building emissions, adding EV charging and solar capacity and cutting miles traveled by fossil-fueled vehicles, among other priorities, reports Kathiann M. Kowalski for Inside Climate News.
In a nutshell:
Cleveland and neighboring cities are making strides in reducing greenhouse gas emissions despite state-level climate policy setbacks. Cleveland's updated climate action plan commits to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, a more ambitious and science-based goal than its previous target of an 80 percent reduction by 2050. The city has also joined the Department of Energy's Better Building Challenge to reduce building emissions. Neighboring cities like Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights are implementing rooftop solar, energy audits, and sustainability measures. Despite challenges, leaders are focused on improving quality of life through sustainability efforts.
Key quote:
“We do have a lot of headwind from the state,” Anand Natarajan, assistant director for the Cleveland Mayor’s Office of Sustainability & Climate Justice said. Ohio previously had strong renewable energy and energy efficiency standards, he explained. But they have become “significantly watered down or nonexistent” as a result of legislative actions over the past decade, he said.
The big picture:
Achieving net-zero emissions in a city like Cleveland would yield significant environmental and health benefits. Environmentally, it would reduce the city's contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, helping combat climate change and mitigate its adverse effects. Cleaner air and a reduction in pollution from fossil fuels could lead to improved air quality, reducing respiratory ailments and enhancing overall public health. This transition could also stimulate innovation and job creation in green industries, fostering economic growth while promoting a healthier and more sustainable urban environment.
Read the article at Inside Climate News.
Small-scale clean energy and low carbon technologies—such as solar panels, smart appliances and electric bicycles—are more likely to push society toward meeting climate goals than large-scale technologies, argued Brian Bienkowski for EHN.
