Post on 10-Aug-2020
Somerville Climate Forward
Community Meeting, June 26th, 2017
Agenda
▪ Introduction by Mayor Curtatone▪ Somerville Climate Forward Overview▪ Baseline studies
▫ Greenhouse Gas Inventory▫ Pathways to Carbon Neutrality▫ Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
▪ Small group discussions▪ Next steps & how to stay involved
Goals of meeting
▪ Everyone walks away with a shared understanding of the Somerville Climate Forward planning process and key takeaways from baseline climate studies.
▪ We hear your vision and ideas for Somerville Climate Forward.
▪ Next steps are clear and everyone knows how to stay involved in the planning process.
Somerville Climate ForwardProject Overview
The project in its context
Vision
Somerville is a thriving, equitable, carbon neutral, and resilient city that is preparing for climate change while doing its share to prevent it.
Carbon Neutral –
Somerville will have a
net-zero release of
greenhouse gases.
Any emissions that
cannot be fully
eliminated will be
offset.
Equitable – The
benefits and
opportunities created
by climate action are
fairly distributed to all
and resources are
prioritized to alleviate
the unequal burdens
of climate change.
Resilient – Somerville
will adapt in order to
be prepared for the
chronic and acute
impacts of climate
change.
Thriving – Somerville
continues to be an
exceptional place to
live, work, play, and
raise a family.
Vision
Somerville’s buildings and homes are net-zero carbon, healthy, safe, and affordable.
Somerville uses 100% renewable energy to heat and power all homes and buildings.
Somerville’s urban and natural systems work together to adapt to climate change and provide social and environmental benefits to all.
Infrastructure and utilities in Somerville are reliable and adapted to changes in Somerville’s built environment and to changes in the climate.
Residents and businesses in Somerville understand the impacts of a consumption-based economy and are working to reduce consumption and to decrease the climate-change impact of waste.
Vision
Everyone has accessible, and affordable zero-carbon ways to commute and get around Somerville.
Residents are protected from climate-related extreme weather events and maintain access to safe and affordable housing, healthy and local food, and recreational activities as the climate changes.
Somerville has a sustainable economy that builds on opportunities created by climate action and is resilient to negative impacts from climate change.
Everyone within the Somerville community has information about climate change, and is empowered and supported to take action, regardless of age, education level, cultural background, and language.
The City of Somerville is proactive about preparing for climate change and leads by example.
Integrated approach for adaptation & mitigation
Integrated approach for adaptation & mitigation
Streamlining of Solar Permitting Process in San Francisco
Adaptation Plans
Integrated approach to adaptation & mitigation
Integrated approach for adaptation & mitigation
Housing Ownership Rates in SomervilleExample for Prioritization
BuildingsNatural SystemsUtilities and InfrastructureTransportationEnergy
Consumption & WasteHealth and WellbeingEconomic and Community Development Education & OutreachCity Operations
Identify and prioritize climate action solutions for:
Schedule
Baseline Studies
Climate change baseline
Credit: Jonas Kahn
▪ What are our current conditions?
▪ What might happen in the future?
▪ Greenhouse Gas Inventories
▪ Carbon Neutrality Pathway Assessment
▪ Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
▪ Analytical basis for developing strategies
Place your screenshot here
SustainaVillewww.somervillema.gov/sustainaville
Online portal for ▪ Taking action▪ Learning about City
activities▪ Getting involved▪ Downloading reports and
resources
Municipal climate change planning
▪ What are our neighbors doing?▪ Cambridge Climate Change Vulnerability
Assessment (2015) and Preparedness &
Resilience Plan (2018)
▪ Cambridge Net Zero Action Plan (2015)
▪ Climate Ready Boston (2016)
▪ Carbon Free Boston (2018)
▪ What is our region doing?▪ Metro Mayors Coalition Preparedness Taskforce
(2015)
▪ Metro Mayors Coalition Climate Mitigation
Commitment (2016)
▪ What is the Commonwealth doing?▪ Global Warming Solutions Act (2008)
▪ Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program
(2017)
Greenhouse gas inventory
▪Based on 2014 data▪ Updating this summer with 2016 data▪Community and City government operations inventories▪Identify sources of our contributions to climate change▪Track progress on emissions reductions
Community GHG emissions
What does that mean?
Stationary energy
Transportation
City government emissions
City government emissions
How could Somerville get to net-zero emissions by 2050?
Image Source: Hal Morgan
Somerville’s Carbon neutrality target
Emissions levels on reductions pathway
▪ The proposed reduction pathway shows the transitions that are likely necessary to realize these levels of emissions.
▪ Strong early action will be needed to achieve the 2030 levels ▪ Some offsets will be required to achieve the 2050 net zero carbon emissions
target.
YearEmissions
MT CO2e/YearPopulation
Pathway Emissions
per Capita
Science-Based Target
Emissions per Capita
2014 (Base Year) 608,123 78,900 7.7 NA
2020 (Reduction Pathway) 391,127 84,253 4.6 TBD
2030 (Reduction Pathway) 206,110 93,993 2.2 2.9
2050 (Reduction Pathway) 48,686 116,982 0.4 0.0
Carbon neutrality pathway core strategies
Lower-Carbon Electricity (29%)
Energy Efficiency - Existing Buildings (7%)
Energy Efficiency - New Buildings (2%)
Fuel Switching - Existing & New Buildings (10%)
District Energy - Existing & New Buildings (15%)
Paper and Plastic Waste Diversion (2%)
Transit Oriented & Mixed Use Development (2%)
Mode Shift (6%)
Fuel Switching - Passenger Vehicles (19%)
Fuel Switching - Trucks & Off-Road Vehicles (9%)
Carbon reduction core strategies
StrategyEmissions Reduction Potential (MT CO2e/Year) % of 2050
reductions2020 2030 2050
Lower-Carbon Electricity (CCA & RPS) 98,000 167,000 248,000 29%
Building Energy Efficiency 23,000 49,000 77,000 9%
Building Energy Fuel Switching 31,000 81,000 88,400 10%
District Energy 26,000 55,000 131,000 15%
Paper and Plastic Waste Diversion 7,000 10,000 13,000 2%
Transit Oriented/Mixed Use Development 3,000 8,000 20,000 2%
Passenger Mode Shift (from SOV to transit and walk/bike) 8,000 42,000 54,000 6%
Vehicle Fuel Switching (passenger - fossil fuels to electric) 16,000 56,000 161,000 19%
Vehicle Fuel Switching (trucks - diesel to biodiesel) 30,000 34,000 42,000 5%
Vehicle Fuel Switching (off-road - diesel to biodiesel) 3,000 8,000 20,000 2%
Possible reduction pathwayRemaining
emissions
Remaining emissions
MT
CO
2e
/ye
ar
-
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
What do we need to prepare for, regardless of meeting global emissions goal?
Climate change impacts
SLR & storm surge
2015 2030 2070
Precipitation Temperature
Vulnerability and risk assessment methodology
2030 and 2070 coastal flooding probability during a 1%/year storm (100-year storm)
Amelia
Earhart
Dam
Schrafft
Center
Pathway
Schrafft
Center
Pathway
Precipitation
▪Somerville is projected to experience a 30% increase in rainfall during a 100-year, 24-hour event by 2070.
Urban heat island and increase high-heat days
Analysis sectors
▪ Vulnerable populations▪ Age▪ Income▪ Education▪ Language isolation
▪ Human health▪ Emergency services▪ Economic impact
Example Vulnerability: Heat stress on people’s daily routines
▪ Urban form leads to regional and localized urban heat islands
▪ Heat stress during walking, cycling, and waiting for transit
▪ Air quality and changing allergy seasons
▪ Changes in conditions for disease carriers (e.g., mosquitos)
Example vulnerability: Future precipitation patterns on physical and economic systems
▪ Existing and future critical assets are
located in flood-prone areas.
▪ Somerville’s geography and topography
make us vulnerable to rain events.
▪ Infrastructure does not meet current
needs; however, current investments will
expand capacity.
▪ More frequent and intense disruptions to
transportation, buildings, and utility
systems that support economy.
Example: Amelia Earhart Dam is outside of City jurisdiction
▪ If no improvement made:▪ Flanking possible by 2035,
affecting shoreline neighborhoods
▪ Overtopping of dam by 2070, flooding in East Somerville, Winter Hill, Assembly Sq.
▪ Dam is owned and operated by the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation
Top priorities for climate preparedness
▪ Citywide precipitation▪ Amelia Earhart Dam failure▪Schrafft Center flooding
pathway▪ Police and Fire Headquarters▪ Transportation System
▪Economic Growth Areas▪ Citywide temperature increase▪ Public health impacts to
vulnerable populations▪ Open space and trees
Learn more at in-depth
presentations
Greenhouse Gas
Accounting
Wednesday, August
16th @ 6pm
Climate Change
Vulnerability
Assessment
Monday, August 21st
@ 6pm
Taking Action
BuildingsNatural SystemsUtilities and InfrastructureTransportationEnergy
Consumption & WasteHealth and WellbeingEconomic and Community Development Education & OutreachCity Operations
Somerville is a thriving, equitable, carbon neutral, and resilient city that is preparing for climate change while doing its share to prevent it.
Somerville Climate Forward
Small Group Discussion
Question to discuss:
What does a carbon neutral and climate prepared Somerville look like to you?
▪ Give everyone a chance to talk▪ Be respectful of everyone’s ideas
and opinions▪ There are no wrong ideas▪ Notes will be shared on
SustainaVille website
Next Steps
How to stay involved
1. Working groups2. Online participation: www.somervillema.gov/sustainaville3. In-Depth Baseline Meetings: @ Central Library Auditorium
▪ Greenhouse Gas Accounting - Wednesday, August 16th @ 6pm▪ Climate Change Vulnerabilities – Monday, August 21st @ 6pm
4. Engagement at SomerStreets and festivals5. Late fall community meeting
Topic Focused Working Groups
1. Buildings & Energy2. Natural Systems3. Utilities & Infrastructure4. Transportation5. Consumption & Waste
6. Health & Wellbeing7. Community & Economic
Development 8. Outreach & Education
Working Group Timeline
SummerIdea
brainstorm
FallScale to
Somerville
WinterRevise for
Implementation
July 9Deadline to sign up
Working Group Expectations
Expectations▪ Commit to attend three
meetings and complete some homework between meetings
▪ Meetings will be scheduled on Thursday evenings
▪ Sign up tonight or email Hannah Payne: hpayne@somervillema.gov
Why participate?▪ Opportunity to share your
expertise and local knowledge▪ Help contribute to the
development of actionable strategies for Somerville
▪ Community stakeholders and city staff will meet together
Next Steps
▪ Sign up for a working group if you’d like to get more involved ▪ Sign up for SustainaVille Updates to get updated on project development▪Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook/greensomerville
▪Email Hannah Payne hpayne@somervillema.gov to: ▪ Sign up for a working group▪ Ask a question or get more
information▪ Share additional ideas and
suggestions
Thank youAny questions?Hannah PayneSustainability Coordinator, Office of Sustainability & Environmenthpayne@somervillema.gov(617) 625-6600 x2422www.somervillema.gov/sustainaville
Photo credit: https://www.getfoundquick.com/seo-somerville-ma/