Item 7- Briefing: Austin Climate Equity Overview — original pdf

Backup

Austin Climate Equity Plan Phillip Duran, Sr Climate Analyst March 2024 1 Austin Climate Equity Plan Overview • How the Climate Equity Plan was developed • What’s in the Plan • Where we are now 2 3 Why lead with Equity in Climate? • Low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately affected by climate hazards Experience climate shocks on top of existing economic stressors • Have less resources to bounce back from event Suffer long-term impacts to mental and physical health • • Plan Development Process Diverse participation • • Community ownership approach • Mandatory Equity training Joint Sustainability Committee Steering Committee Climate and Environment Leadership Team Transportation Electrification Transportation and Land Use Sustainable Buildings Food and Product Consumption Natural Systems Staff + Stakeholder Advisory Groups 5 Community Climate Ambassadors 2020-2021 Cohort • 50% African American/Black • 25% Latino/Hispanic • 8% Asian • 8% Pacific Islander • 8% Two or more races • Over 50% under 24 years old • Over 75% female Participating Stakeholder Organizations 7 What’s in the Plan? 8 Climate Equity Plan Overview Adopted by City Council in September 2021 Net-zero by 2040 5 Sections - Sustainable Buildings - Transportation Electrification - Transportation and Land Use - Food and Product Consumption - Natural Systems 17 Goals – To be accomplished by 2030 to keep on track 75 Strategies - Progress in next 5 years Equity Throughout, particularly in Strategies • • • Prioritize incentives + target communications towards low-income & communities of color Just transition to green jobs for new industries & technology Prioritize health & other benefits 9 Climate Equity Plan Summary 17 Goals What needs to be accomplished by 2030 to keep us on track 75 Strategies What should be implemented in the next 5 years to make progress 10 Austin is a National Leader in Climate Action • Austin is 1 of 4 Major US Cities (+ Denver, Kansas City, San Francisco) that have adopted the most aggressive GHG Reduction goal — Net Zero by 2040. • Austin is 1 of 5 Major US Cities (+ DC, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle) that have put equity at the center of their climate initiatives. • The Austin Energy Goal of 100% Carbon Free electricity generation by 2035 is in the top echelon of utility goals in the US, very few are more aggressive. • Austin community-wide GHG emissions decreased 25% since 2011 (15.1 MMT in 2010 to 11.5MMT in 2022). Per capita emissions decreased by a third despite population increasing by a third over same time period. 11 2030 Projected Emissions Reductions Net-zero by 2040 12  Sustainable Buildings Foundation Communities Lakeline Learning Center 13 Sustainable Buildings – 4 Goals to be achieved by 2030 Ensure benefits flow to low income communities and communities of color Enhance understanding of energy consumption Energy efficiency net zero carbon buildings Ensure equitable workforce development for emerging technologies 1: Achieve net-zero carbon for all new buildings and reduce emissions by 25% for existing buildings, while lowering all natural gas related emissions by 30%. • • • • 2: Reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions from refrigerant leakage by 25%. • Capture and destroy old refrigerants • Improve building codes to encourage cleaner refrigerants • Create incentives for leak detection and repair • Awareness and training for HVAC service providers • Reduce the volume of refrigerants 3: Reduce the embodied carbon footprint of building materials used in local construction by 40% from a 2020 baseline. • • • • Lead by example through design and construction standards Incentivize lower-carbon materials Educate stakeholders on materials best practices Stimulate decarbonization with local producers 4: Equitably achieve a community-wide water demand of 152,000 acre-feet per year. • • • Engage residents in technological transitions and conservation programs Evaluate program participation criteria Reduce emissions at the water-energy nexus 14 Transportation Electrification 15 Transportation Electrification – 3 Goals to be achieved by 2030 1: 40% of total vehicle miles traveled in the City of Austin are electrified and electric vehicle ownership is diverse culturally, geographically and economically. • Conduct an EV Community Needs Assessment • Create Equitable Incentives for Buying and Leasing EVs • • • • Reduce Tolls for EV’s in the Eastern Crescent Launch an e-Bike + Electric Car Sharing Program Electrify Public Sector Fleet Vehicles Electrify Private Sector Fleet Vehicles • Create a Network of Low-cost, Accessible Charging Stations • • • Incentivize Internet-Connected Smart Charging Adopt New Energy and Building Codes Expand Outreach to Underserved Groups • Create a Regional Coalition to Support EV’s • • • Pilot and Adopt New Technology Prioritize a Just Transition Expand the EV-related Business Ecosystem 2: Austin has compelling and equitably-distributed charging infrastructure that is a mix of level 1, 2, and DC fast charging to accommodate 40% of total vehicle miles traveled in the city. 3: The Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos MSA will be a global leader in transportation electrification by adopting policies and technologies that maximize the economic and health benefits for all while evolving with and defining the growth of this emerging industry. 16 Where we are now 17 Progress towards Net-zero by 2040 18 Austin Community-wide Carbon Footprint 19 Local Community-wide Footprint 2022: 11.5 million metric tons CO₂e 20 Community Climate Ambassadors 2022-2023 Cohort Focused on community action and making an impact through ambassador-led projects. Highlights: • • Video on organizing for Renter’s Rights. Events, publications, showcases on climate change and its effects on communities of color, the LGBTQ community, and Austin’s youth. • Work to rase resilience and preparedness awareness, including translating the Neighborhood Preparedness Guide into Spanish. And more • 2024 Updates are Live on Implementation Dashboard Details on all the progress and ongoing work around the Climate Equity Plan at the link below. LINK: https://bit.ly/ClimateEquityDashboard 22 What’s next? ● Continuing focus on community impact through a new Food, Climate, & Resilience mini-grant program this year ● Coordinated pursuit of federal funding (Inflation Reduction Act and more) ● Working with a consultant on grant applications ● Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants ● Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program – two applications this year ● Community Change Grants – CBO and City collaborative applications ● Clean Energy Investment Tax Credits – first time tax-exempt entities are eligible ● Environmental Investment Fund ● ● ● Identify projects that need funding to meet the City’s goals Joint Sustainability Committee and Public Recommendations (3/27 and 4/24) Prioritized list of project / programs / investments that reduce CO2 emissions, conserve and protect water resources, improve resilience, and support City organization sustainability – with options for funding 23 Thank you! phillip.duran@austintexas.gov 24 Supplemental slides 25 Transportation and Land Use – 3 Goals to be achieved by 2030 1: 80% of new non-residential development is located within the city’s growth centers and corridors. Plan for Complete Communities • • Work with employers on location and amenities • Create mobility hubs • Phase out free parking 2: Preserve and produce 135,000 housing units, including 60,000 affordable housing units with 75% of new housing located within ½ mile of activity centers and corridors. • Offer Immediate Affordable Housing Assistance • • Fund Affordable Housing Enhance community engagement for affordable housing 3: 50% of trips in Austin are made using public transit, biking, walking, carpooling, or avoided altogether by working from home. • • • • • • Expand and Improve Public Transportation Promote Free Transportation Options Transit Stations and Stops Prioritize Bicycle Network Bicycle Education and Training Sidewalks, Urban Trails and Crossings 26 Food and Product Consumption – 3 Goals to be achieved by 2030 Support institutional food purchasing Promote and fund community-driven food retail programs Incentivize pro-health, pro-climate food choices 1: Ensure all Austinites can access a food system that is community-driven, prioritizes regenerative agriculture, supports dietary and health agency, prefers plant-based foods and minimizes food waste. • • • • Conduct a food waste root cause analysis 2: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from institutional, commercial, and government purchasing by at least 50%. • Measure institutional lifecycle emissions • • • Strengthen the City’s sustainable purchasing program Strengthen non-City institutional purchasing programs Expand the City’s Circular Economy Program Promote Reuse 3: Aggressively pursue waste reduction, organics composting and recycling to achieve a new zero waste goal when the new Austin Resource Recovery Zero Waste Plan is adopted. • • Create Eco-Hubs • Create a workforce development program for the circular economy • Offer incentives for products that have lower negative environmental and social impact • Retool the bulk pick-up collection program 27 Natural Systems – 3 Goals to be achieved by 2030, 1 by 2050 1: Legally protect an additional 20,000 acres of carbon pools on natural lands and manage all new and existing natural areas (70,000 acres total) with a focus on resilience. Protect Natural Lands • • Manage Natural Lands for Resilience • • Increase Community Access and Positive Perception of Public Land Protect Water Sources 2: Protect 500,000 acres of farmland in the 5-county region through legal protections and/or regenerative agriculture programs. 3: Achieve 50% citywide tree canopy cover by 2050, with a focus on increasing canopy cover in areas where coverage is lower than average. Protect of Working Lands Reform Agricultural Tax Appraisals Support Farmers through Financial Assistance Provide Farmers with Resources Expand Composting • • • • • • Workforce Development for Farmers Protect Canopy Cover on City Lands Tree Protections and Landscape Regulations • • • Community Tree Planting • Promote Tree Health and Resilience on Private Properties Prioritize Carbon Neutrality for Public Lands • Reclaiming Public Space • • Community Stewardship • Carbon Farming 4: Include all City-owned lands under a management plan that result in neutral or negative carbon emissions and maximize community co-benefits. 28