Cities Take the Lead

Combating Climate Change

By Cutright Elizabeth on Jun 2, 2017 in News

Treaties and international accords can certainly trigger change, but most of the time the real action happens on the ground. Grassroots campaigns and public support can often pick up momentum, powered by the actions of small groups and individuals committed to a cause. As a result, when it comes to global issues like sustainability, renewable energy and climate change, cities have to power to make a big difference.

“There is no single solution for solving global climate change,” declares the C40 Cities organization, “but cities have the ability, capacity and will to lead.”

“We believe that a global future lies in urban innovation and action,” the group states on their website. “As the majority of future humans will live in cities, it just makes sense that our solution to climate change will reside there too.

A Costly Climate

While images of starving polar bears and collapsing glaciers have come to symbolize the environmental impact of a warming planet, the economic effects felt by cities are equally significant. According to a new study published in Nature Climate Change, large metrolpolitan areas experience the economic consequences of climate change at a rate three times higher than the less populated regions of the world.

Some of the costs are the result of the “urban heat island effect.” Because cities often include huge swathes of land covered in pavement and concrete buildings, the heat those materials absorb is emanated back out into the atmosphere, resulting in temperature increases as high as 19˚F.  Researchers have dubbed Los Angeles an “urban heat archipelago,” for example, because urban sprawl has led to several “islands” spread out across the Los Angeles Basin.

“It’s like a whole chain of urban heat islands that run into each other,” explained Gina Solomon, Deputy Secretary for Science and Health with CalEPA. Solomon and her team released a “first-of-its-kind” temperature index in 2015, identifying which regions of the state experienced the heat island phenomenon.

The hot air adds up to real dollars, partly because of higher energy demand during times of extreme temperatures and the detrimental effect air pollution and high heat indexes can have on worker productivity. Also, cities often foot the bills when unexpected weather events trigger disruptions in city services, requiring additional action and manpower from police, fire and paramedics.

“The effect of the urban heat island is going to amplify the economic impacts of climate change,” stated Francisco Estrada, a climate scientist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, during an interview with KPCC 89.3. “And it’s going to amplify the impacts in a really important, significant manner.”

Cool Streets

Los Angles Mayor Gil Garcetti has already vowed to take action, initially promising to lessen the city’s average temperature by three degrees within the next two decades. His “pLAn” involves adding trees and green roofs to the city landscape, along with painting over pavement with light gray hues to reflect rather than absorb sunlight.

Garcetti’s proposal also consist of enhanced resource management and directives on energy efficient buildings, waste management and planning for extreme weather events. The pLAn also calls for increases public transportation and the creation of “livable neighborhoods.”

In its concluding statement, the pLAn calls upon Angelinos to do their part, declaring, “The City of Los Angeles has long been a leader on environmental, economic, and social equity issues. When the City leads by example on sustainability performance it inspires both Angelinos and the nation to take action.”

Urban Potential

It is estimated that almost two-thirds of cities around the world have already felt the effects of climate change, including 90% of coastal areas vulnerable to flooding and intense weather events. Thankfully, urban density comes with a silver lining. By creating benchmarks and regulations designed to improve building efficiency and create better transportation options, cities have the potential to help thousands of citizens lower their carbon footprint.

Housing and transportation often live in concert with each other and addressing that relationship can help cities reduce the number of cars on the road while also helping citizens resist the allure of the suburban commute. One important step involves placing new housing developments closer to alternative transit options, like bike paths, bus lines and subways.

A recent study published Urban Land Institute revealed vehicle miles in transit (VMT) can be reduced by up to 40% simply by promoting compact development. In cities like Austin and Seattle, zoning changes are being used to increase urban density to mitigate sprawl and address housing shortages. In all, public transportation can reduce CO2 emission by close to 37 million metric tons every year, a figure that represents almost 50% of the nation’s “total annual emissions.”

Riding on the coattails of urban planning, a push to improve building efficiency provides another avenue for GHG reductions. Buildings already claim more than 50% the nation’s energy consumption. Through a combination of retrofits, benchmark regulations and energy management installations, many cities have been able to help building owners and managers reduce energy demand resulting in smaller carbon footprints and lower energy bills.

Finally, cities can work to decrease the number of gasoline powered vehicles roaming streets and avenues. Reducing public parking and providing carpooling incentives can contribute to lessening the number of single-driver vehicles, which helps cut CO2-generated traffic and long commutes. Also, encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles, both by city transit services and individual residents, will help cities make even greater inroads into GHG reductions. For example, New York City could reduce carbon emissions by 575,000 metric tons by converting public buses to an all-electric fleet.

A United Front

According to the US Census, 86% of the US population lives in an urban environment, generating a significant portion of US GDP and representing close to $6.2 trillion in economic value. With 91 major cities across the world committed to its cause, the C40 Cities organization hopes to harness the power of the 650 million city dwellers in its network to create thriving low-carbon economies “delivered in tandem with climate goals.”

“The greatest cities of the world, in particular the 12 American C40 cities, remain resolutely committed to doing what needs to be done to implement the Paris Agreement,” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said in a statement. “Not a single day goes by without C40 mayors on every continent making bold and pioneering choices, serving citizens of the future. We will be relentless. The evidence and urgency of the climate crisis, as well as the economic potential in shifting towards a greener future, leaves us with no alternative.”

Garcetti’s press secretary George Kivork echoed that statement, telling Wired, “We do see ourselves as signatories. It’s essentially saying, we’re going to continue the steps we said we were going to take when our country was committed to the Paris Agreement. We’re going to continue taking those actions.”

Last week, 83 mayors of some the largest cities in the U.S., including Chicago, Pittsburgh, Austin and New York City, vowed to independently adhere to the guidelines included in the Paris Climate Agreement. The accord, signed by 190 countries, focuses primarily on “holding the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels.”

Representing over 40 million Americans, mayors from the rust belt to the Midwest and on the coast swore to  “intensify efforts to meet each of our cities’ current climate goals, push for new action to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target, and work together to create the 21st-century clean energy economy.”