Who did it:
In August 2006, the Mayor and City Council, City Manager and Chief Environmental Officer decided to create and develop a community wide climate protection plan. By October 2006 the Mayor had appointed an 11-member Steering Committee to oversee the planning process.
Other stakeholders involved:
Businesses
MARC staff
Environmental Management Commission
Environmental & other Non-profit organizations
Neighborhoods
EPA, State of Missouri, Jackson County, & City staff
What they did (and when):
Work Groups were created in November 2006 to develop suggested action plans in specific areas:
Energy
Transportation
Carbon Offsets and Waste Management
Policy and Outreach
In April 2007 Kansas City adopted Phase 1 of the Climate Protection Plan, and created four Working Groups to develop recommendations for the Steering Committee regarding government goals:
Consider list of possible actions & suggest additional ideas
Evaluate GHG reduction estimates for various actions
Make recommendations to Steering Committee regarding actions to be included in KC Climate Protection Plan
In July 2008, Phase 2 was created and consisted of two Working Groups convened to produce recommendations for community-wide action and objectives.
Develop a baseline inventory
Establish a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal
Prepare an action plan to achieve the GHG reduction goal
Work Groups, comprised of over 60 volunteers, spent eight months developing recommendations for GHG emission reduction measures
To create policies & actions to reduce GHG impacts of current & future building stock ( residential, commercial, institutional, industrial and governmental)
Create public education & outreach leading to empowerment of citizen action
Why they did it:
To reduce GHG emissions by 30% below year 2000 levels by 2020;
To reduce community-wide GHG emissions was set at 80% below year 2000 levels by 2050, with focus on a long-term outlook to become a climate neutral city.
Make climate protection/GHG emission reduction a key factor in all decisions & actions by City
To save the City money
To reduce vehicle-based emissions and VMT through alternative fuels, public transportation, energy-smart vehicles, telecommuting, ride-sharing and transit-oriented design
To increase energy efficiency and to increase generation through renewable energy sources
To create innovative design, constructions, rehabilitation and maintenance of buildings
Results/outcomes/successes/failures/lessons learned:
Climate protection is an ongoing process, and progress must be periodically evaluated. Kansas City should, in several years – and perhaps every two to three years thereafter -- evaluate the actions recommended here.
Individual measures and strategies for reaching GHG emissions reduction goals include urban forestry, infill and form-based code planning, LEED principles in the construction and rehabilitation of buildings, waste reduction, energy efficiency, development incentives, and planning for mass transit and encouraging alternative transportation.
Information updates on the status of the Plan can be obtained from Dennis Murphey, Chief Environmental Officer, City of Kansas City, Missouri. Ph 816.513.3459 dennis_murphey@kcmo.org
Who did it:
In August 2006, the Mayor and City Council, City Manager and Chief Environmental Officer decided to create and develop a community wide climate protection plan. By October 2006 the Mayor had appointed an 11-member Steering Committee to oversee the planning process.
Other stakeholders involved:
What they did (and when):
Work Groups were created in November 2006 to develop suggested action plans in specific areas:
In April 2007 Kansas City adopted Phase 1 of the Climate Protection Plan, and created four Working Groups to develop recommendations for the Steering Committee regarding government goals:
In July 2008, Phase 2 was created and consisted of two Working Groups convened to produce recommendations for community-wide action and objectives.
Why they did it:
Results/outcomes/successes/failures/lessons learned:
Climate protection is an ongoing process, and progress must be periodically evaluated. Kansas City should, in several years – and perhaps every two to three years thereafter -- evaluate the actions recommended here.
Individual measures and strategies for reaching GHG emissions reduction goals include urban forestry, infill and form-based code planning, LEED principles in the construction and rehabilitation of buildings, waste reduction, energy efficiency, development incentives, and planning for mass transit and encouraging alternative transportation.
Information updates on the status of the Plan can be obtained from Dennis Murphey, Chief Environmental Officer, City of Kansas City, Missouri. Ph 816.513.3459 dennis_murphey@kcmo.org