Climate change has emerged as one of the “hottest” issues confronting our generation. While the earth’s heating and cooling is a naturally occurring cycle, human activities have increased the rate of climate changes from long geologic timeframes of thousands of years, down to hundreds of years and even decades. The results are very unpredictable weather patterns that influence all aspects of our daily life including transportation, food systems, energy production, wildlife habitat and availability of natural resources.  Fossil fuel use is closely linked to climate change. In Eugene 50 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are from the transportation sector.

In the past few years evidence has emerged that suggests global production of oil and natural gas is likely to reach its peak or has already peaked. This issue is often described as “peak oil”. This is coupled with the continuous rise in global demand for fossil fuels and the huge role they play throughout our community, including production and transportation of many of the goods and services used in Eugene, food production, energy generation and road construction. The spike in fuel prices during spring and summer 2008 gave an indication of how quickly prices can change. The subsequent price reduction is likely to be short-lived as global demand for fossil fuels increase and there are no significant new oil fields being discovered or going into production.

Businesses, government agencies and other organizations, households and many not-for-profit groups make decisions based on the assumption that oil and gas will remain plentiful and affordable.

To plan for climate changes and fossil fuel prices increases and potential availability fluctuations, communities, individuals, governments and businesses of all types and sizes, are taking action to decrease their greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel use and plan for adapting to the changes.  Many cities around the country have taken a proactive approach to addressing these issues. In May, 2007 Mayor Kitty Piercy joined hundreds of other mayors (now over 850) in signing the US Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.  The City of Eugene is an active member of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. ICLEI supports local governments in creating more sustainable communities.

What is the City doing?
The City of Eugene is developing two climate and energy action plans: one focused on internal city operations, and the other addressing community wide climate change and fossil fuel use.

The first step in the City’s internal climate action plan was the completion of the “City of Eugene Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Internal Operations 2000 and 2005”.  In October 2008, the Eugene City Council adopted the Sustainability Commission’s recommendation that the City achieve carbon neutrality for city operations by 2020. To help meet this goal, a City staff group is developing emission reduction targets and analyzing city operations, policy and practices for additional ways to decrease emissions. The targets and reduction strategies will form the City’s internal climate and energy action plan. This plan is due for completion in July 2009.

The City of Eugene is also initiating a community-wide climate and energy action plan. In 2007 the City, with the assistance of a steering group composed of other public agencies, school districts, and utility companies completed a Community Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory. The City Council has recently adopted two complementary recommendations proposed by the Sustainability Commission – to develop, in conjunction with a wide variety of partners a community climate and energy action plan to reduce current community-wide fossil fuel consumption 50 percent by 2030, identify strategies to reduce carbon emissions and necessary adaptations. The community plan development has started and will be completed by September 2010. For information on the new Community Climate and Energy Action Plan go to www.sustaineugene.com/eugeneclimate.

One of the goals of the City’s climate and energy action plans is to provide a template for effective strategies that businesses, organizations, and individuals throughout the community can use and build on.

Addressing climate change now will have positive effects in our community far into the future. There are many opportunities to stimulate the economy, create new jobs, reduce expenses from pollution and waste handling and improve the quality of life for everyone. No single community or nation can slow the global climate changes, yet through collaboration and committed action, we can meet the challenge and create healthier, more resilient communities.