Urban Sustainability in Philadelphia

1. Urban Sustainability in Philadelphia Darlene Messina, Coordinator: Environmental and Urban Sustainability Initiatives (EUSI), Managing Directors Office Thomas Weir, Chief of Program Services, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Air Management Services

2. What is Urban Sustainability? • Planning for development with the goal of meeting current needs equitably, while taking steps to ensure that adequate resources are available for future generations. • Natural environment • Public health • Economic future • Individual and Collective decision-making

3. Climate Change Importance in Philly • It is estimated that cities may be responsible for up to 75% of total GHG emissions • Philadelphia is below average in terms of each citizen’s contribution to GHG, but there are still many ways we can make citywide reductions

4. Philadelphia’s Progress & Assets Toward Sustainability • Cities for Climate Protection Program: International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) – In 1999, the City agreed to a goal to reduce greenhouse gases by 10% from 1990 levels. • U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement (U.S. Conference of Mayors) –In 2005, the City agreed to a goal to reduce greenhouse gases in line with the U.S. target under the Kyoto Protocol, 7% from 1990 levels. .2nd step CCAP – draft • Large Cities Climate Leadership Group (William J. Clinton Foundation) – In 2006, the City committed to action to reduce urban carbon emissions and adapt to climate change (C-40). • Categorical Progress – however, it has not been fully integrated into comprehensive Citywide plan. • Good marks on SustainLane report, but there is much room for improvement • Network of advocacy groups, and public and private investment in sustainability issues.

5. Philadelphia Sustainlane • Philadelphia got highest marks for Local Food and Agriculture, Green Economy, City Commuting, Energy/Climate Change Policy, and Metro Public Transit

6. Sustainability: Climate Change, Ecosystems and HealthHuman Impacts on Local Climate and Air Quality • University of Southern California Study – Traffic pollution harms children’s lungs: Children who live within 500 meters of a freeway have substantial and permanent deficits in lung function as they mature. The adverse effects of local traffic exposure on lung development is independent of the adverse effect of regional pollutants. January 26 Online First issue of The Lancet. • New England Journal of Medicine Study – Cities with higher PM2.5 levels from autos and power plants adds greater heart risk for older women. February 1, 2007 • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report – global warming impacts in 21st century “would very likely be larger than those observed during the 20th century…" February 2007

7. Diesels and Climate Change • In the United States • Trucking accounts for 60 percent of freight energy use, consuming 2.3 million barrels of oil per day in 2000. • Energy used per ton-mile has shown only modest improvement over the last several decades. • Diesel trucks emit approximately 7 percent of greenhouse gas emissions (5 percent in Philadelphia)

8. Reductions in Fuel Use • Significant reductions in heavy –duty fuel consumption can be achieve through new and existing technologies. • Wal-mart announced a broad fuel consumption improvement program that is expected to double the energy efficiency of its commercial truck fleet.

9. The Inventory • Philadelphia County only • Includes all fuels used – vehicles, heating, industrial processes • Includes all electricity used – lighting, pumps, traffic and street lights • Accounts for waste generated by the city.

10. The Inventory • Community and Government Subsets 1990 base year 1997 and 2006 interim years 2010 forecast year • Community Analysis (Tons eCO2) 19,003,872 (1990 Emissions) - 16,797,794 (2010 Emissions) 11.61% reduction • Government Analysis (Tons eCO2) 584,830 (1990 Emissions) – 532,768 (2010 Emissions) 8.90% reduction

11. Compiling the Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory • International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Clean Air and Clean Protection (CACP) Software • Support and participation of numerous City agencies and departments http://www.iclei.org/, http://www.cacpsoftware.org/

12. Community Emissions

13. Community Sectors

14. Community Sources

15. Government Emissions

16. Government Sectors

17. Government Sources

18. Government Emissions

19. Government Emissions

20. Sources • Municipal Energy Office – Kent Miller • City Planning Commission • Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission • Streets Department • Office of Fleet Management • Water Department • Company Data

21. Philadelphia Sustainability Initiative • Not fully defined yet • Short Term Goals, e.g. developing policies and training programs, supporting legislative options for reduction • Tracking • Benchmarks • Reporting Progress • Long Term Goals, e.g. green building, participate in initiatives that will generate new technologies • Strengthening Private/Public Partnerships • New Opportunities

22. Climate Change Action Plan • From the City’s Climate Change Action Plan: “GHG emissions from the transportation sector are generated from the consumption of fuels by transportation vehicles, including automobiles, all forms of material transport, and all forms of public transport. Efforts to reduce GHG emissions from transportation will reduce the total vehicle miles traveled by those vehicles, use less polluting sources/mixes of fuel, and/or increase the efficiency of the forms of transport.”

23. Next Steps • Prioritization on political agenda • Education, outreach and awareness of the economic, environmental and human cost of GHGs • Creative funding streams and dedicated funding sources • Crafting best practices and local policy • Supporting state and national legislation

24. How PDD Can Help • PDD can be part of this overall initiative to reduce GHGs: • Technology: • Reduced Fuel Use (Aux. Power Units, Truck Stop Electrification) • Alternative Fuels (biofuels, emulsified fuels) • Diesel hybrids • Other technologies, e.g. electrified offroad equipment • Education and Outreach (Think globally, act locally!) • Press Events • Materials • Participation in other programs: support Clinton Institute's idea of regional purchasing consortium for green technology – more options at a lower price, to the benefit of all • Experiences with Public-Private Partnership – could be applicable to new stakeholder groups (e.g. green buildings)

25. Ideas and Questions?