Item A: Sustainability Commission Recommendations

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Central Services Facility Management City of Eugene 210 Cheshire M Eugene, Oregon EMORANDUM 97401 (541) 682-2690 (541) 682-6222 FAX www.eugene-or.gov Date: August 2, 2007 To: Eugene Mayor Piercy and City Council From: Glen Svendsen, Division Manager Subject:Eugene Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory Local governments are increasingly playing a key role in the development and implementation of local measures to prevent climate change and reduce global warming. Eugene is one of some 600 cities that have signed the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement. As the first step to developing local strategies for climate change initiatives, the City has completed an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions (attached) within the Eugene urban growth boundary. Background To help carry out this effort, the City has joined the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) “Cities for Climate Protection” program, which provided a framework for completing the emissions inventory. The ICLEI framework, used by over 200 US communities, also provides a model for developing a climate action plan. Eugene’s greenhouse gas emissions inventory will provide a basis for developing and then evaluating community-wide greenhouse gas reduction strategies. The development of the greenhouse inventory was guided by a consortium of local agencies that are also pursuing green house gas reduction initiatives. This inter-agency steering group, comprised of EWEB, Lane Community College, Lane Council of Governments, Lane County Solid Waste, Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority, Lane Transit District, Northwest Natural Gas, School District 4j, the City of Springfield and the University of Oregon reviewed the City’s approach to developing the community- wide greenhouse gas inventory and the findings of the inventory. Greenhouse Gas Inventory The community-wide inventory of greenhouse gas emissions provides baseline information on past, current and projected emissions levels. The community’s emissions for 1990 and 2005 have been calculated. Emissions for the year 2020 have been projected based on current population and business growth estimates. The inclusion of a “business as usual” scenario for the year 2020 provides a benchmark against which the future impact of emissions reduction strategies can be measured. The inventory focuses on greenhouse gas produced within Eugene, including electricity, natural gas, and other minor fuel sources such as wood fiber and heating oil. The impact of gasoline and diesel fuel used Page 1 of 2