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"The greenhouse effect ... will lead to a two to ten degree temperature increase over the next 100 years."
"The changes in the earth's temperature could affect residents and businesses in the City of Alameda and our region."
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Using Renewable Energy is Part of the Solution
As the chart indicates, Alameda Municipal Power uses more renewable power, as defined by the California Energy Commission, than all other utilities in the state.
Local Action Plan Published
On February 5, 2008, the Task Force recommended adoption of a Draft version of the City of Alameda’s Local Action Plan for Climate Protection, which outlines a greenhouse gas emission reduction goal and initiatives that would help achieve this reduction goal.
The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
According to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world's population is releasing greenhouse gases faster than the earth's natural systems can absorb them. These gases are released as by-products of fossil fuel combustion, waste disposal, energy use, land-use changes, and other human activities. The release of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and other gases creates a blanket around the earth that allows light to pass through but traps heat at the surface, preventing its escape into space. Known as the greenhouse effect or global climate change, models show that this phenomenon will lead to a two to ten degree temperature increase over the next 100 years.
Local Impact
Based on the IPCC assumptions, the changes in the earth's temperature could affect residents and businesses in the City of Alameda and our region in the following ways:
- Warmer weather associated with increased heat waves
- Wetter weather with an increase in annual rainfall of 20% to 30%, leading to more serious storm events
- Rising sea levels that will threaten coastal infrastructure, ecosystems, and water supplies
- Decrease in the Sierra snow pack that will affect fresh water availability and tourism opportunities
- Increase in insect born diseases
Alameda Establishes a Climate Protection Task Force
In July 2006, the City of Alameda adopted a resolution to participate in the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Cities for Climate Protection and created a Task Force to guide development of Alameda's Local Action Plan for Climate Protection. The Climate Protection Task Force included nine appointed members of the Alameda community.
The Task Force was charged with:
- Publicizing and engaging the community at large;
- Evaluating and providing prioritized recommendations to the City Council on actions that can be taken;
- Providing recommendations for monitoring of activities;
- Providing recommendations on how to proceed with implementation, including but not limited to, establishing a standing commission or committee.
Five Milestones for Municipalities
The Climate Protection Campaign calls on municipalities to accomplish five milestones that will reduce their contribution to climate change. The City of Alameda has completed Milestone 1 and is currently working on Milestones 2 & 3.
Milestone 1: Analyze greenhouse gas emission levels. Determine current greenhouse gas emissions and forecast the growth in emissions that will occur without preventative action. This was completed in January 2007.
Milestone 2: Set a reduction target. The target is the specific reduction that Alameda aims to achieve by a designated year.
Milestone 3: Develop a Local Action Plan. This plan is a description of policies, programs, and measures that Alameda will implement in order to meet its target.
Milestone 4: Implement the Local Action Plan. Follow through on the proposed actions. Scheduled for Spring 2008 - Fall 2009.
Milestone 5: Monitor the progress and report results. Determine the success of the plan. This is scheduled for Spring 2011.
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