Cities Climate Action Webinar: Setting Effective Priorities, Plus Two Case Studies
On February 27, 2021, about 90 interested residents, officials, and governmental staff attended a PCA webinar that outlined how cities can set effective priories for climate action, and how two leading edge cities, New York City and Berkeley, California, are showing the way. (For information on other webinars we’ve offered, see our Webinars page.)
At the start of the webinar, two PCA members described PCA’s list of 10 Climate Action Planning Steps for Cities and PCA’s Climate Action Priorities for Cities Workbook. (To request a copy of the workbook, please email workbook@peopleforclimateaction.org.)
Next, Danielle Manley, Policy Manager with the Urban Green Council (based in NYC), outlined NYC’s revolutionary Climate Mobilization Act, and explained how her organization helped to get it passed. Ammon Reagan, City of Berkeley’s Sustainability Program Coordinator, discussed their current Building Energy Saving Ordinance.
Summit Presentations
- Court Olson’s opening slides: outline the importance of cities and buildings in relation to climate. Also lay out ten steps that cities can take to create and implement a climate action plan.
- Danielle Manley’s slides: describe the Urban Green Council (based in NYC) and NYC’s revolutionary Climate Mobilization Act.
- Ammon Reagan’s slides: outline Berkeley’s Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO), which requires energy assessments on buildings in Berkeley.
Additional links: reducing climate impacts from buildings in New York City
- Urban Green Council: an nonprofit organization committed to transforming buildings for a sustainable future in New York City and around the world.
- New York City’s Climate Mobilization Act, a revolutionary set of laws aimed at increasing green roofs and energy efficiency in buildings. The laws also offer helpful pathways for financing building efficiency upgrades.
- New York City’s 2020 Energy and Water Use Report, created by the Urban Green Council. (Also see Danielle Manley’s slides for links to other valuable resources from the Urban Green Council.)
Additional links: reducing climate impacts from buildings in Berkeley, California
- Berkeley’s Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO): This page provides a concise outline of this ordinance, which requires energy assessments on buildings in Berkeley.
- Factsheet on Berkeley’s electrification requirements for new buildings: This factsheet describes Berkeley’s Natural Gas Prohibition ordinance and the related Reach Code for Electrification, which work together, requiring new buildings to use electricity (not gas) as an energy source.
Many thanks to the presenters, to those who helped publicize this event, and to all who attended!