Somerville Climate Forward

Community Meeting, June 26th, 2017

Agenda

▪ Introduction by Mayor Curtatone▪ Somerville Climate Forward Overview▪ Baseline studies

▫ Greenhouse Gas Inventory▫ Pathways to Carbon Neutrality▫ Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

▪ Small group discussions▪ Next steps & how to stay involved

Goals of meeting

▪ Everyone walks away with a shared understanding of the Somerville Climate Forward planning process and key takeaways from baseline climate studies.

▪ We hear your vision and ideas for Somerville Climate Forward.

▪ Next steps are clear and everyone knows how to stay involved in the planning process.

Somerville Climate ForwardProject Overview

The project in its context

Vision

Somerville is a thriving, equitable, carbon neutral, and resilient city that is preparing for climate change while doing its share to prevent it.

Carbon Neutral –

Somerville will have a

net-zero release of

greenhouse gases.

Any emissions that

cannot be fully

eliminated will be

offset.

Equitable – The

benefits and

opportunities created

by climate action are

fairly distributed to all

and resources are

prioritized to alleviate

the unequal burdens

of climate change.

Resilient – Somerville

will adapt in order to

be prepared for the

chronic and acute

impacts of climate

change.

Thriving – Somerville

continues to be an

exceptional place to

live, work, play, and

raise a family.

Vision

Somerville’s buildings and homes are net-zero carbon, healthy, safe, and affordable.

Somerville uses 100% renewable energy to heat and power all homes and buildings.

Somerville’s urban and natural systems work together to adapt to climate change and provide social and environmental benefits to all.

Infrastructure and utilities in Somerville are reliable and adapted to changes in Somerville’s built environment and to changes in the climate.

Residents and businesses in Somerville understand the impacts of a consumption-based economy and are working to reduce consumption and to decrease the climate-change impact of waste.

Vision

Everyone has accessible, and affordable zero-carbon ways to commute and get around Somerville.

Residents are protected from climate-related extreme weather events and maintain access to safe and affordable housing, healthy and local food, and recreational activities as the climate changes.

Somerville has a sustainable economy that builds on opportunities created by climate action and is resilient to negative impacts from climate change.

Everyone within the Somerville community has information about climate change, and is empowered and supported to take action, regardless of age, education level, cultural background, and language.

The City of Somerville is proactive about preparing for climate change and leads by example.

Integrated approach for adaptation & mitigation

Integrated approach for adaptation & mitigation

Streamlining of Solar Permitting Process in San Francisco

Adaptation Plans

Integrated approach to adaptation & mitigation

Integrated approach for adaptation & mitigation

Housing Ownership Rates in SomervilleExample for Prioritization

BuildingsNatural SystemsUtilities and InfrastructureTransportationEnergy

Consumption & WasteHealth and WellbeingEconomic and Community Development Education & OutreachCity Operations

Identify and prioritize climate action solutions for:

Schedule

Baseline Studies

Climate change baseline

Credit: Jonas Kahn

▪ What are our current conditions?

▪ What might happen in the future?

▪ Greenhouse Gas Inventories

▪ Carbon Neutrality Pathway Assessment

▪ Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

▪ Analytical basis for developing strategies

Place your screenshot here

SustainaVillewww.somervillema.gov/sustainaville

Online portal for ▪ Taking action▪ Learning about City

activities▪ Getting involved▪ Downloading reports and

resources

Municipal climate change planning

▪ What are our neighbors doing?▪ Cambridge Climate Change Vulnerability

Assessment (2015) and Preparedness &

Resilience Plan (2018)

▪ Cambridge Net Zero Action Plan (2015)

▪ Climate Ready Boston (2016)

▪ Carbon Free Boston (2018)

▪ What is our region doing?▪ Metro Mayors Coalition Preparedness Taskforce

(2015)

▪ Metro Mayors Coalition Climate Mitigation

Commitment (2016)

▪ What is the Commonwealth doing?▪ Global Warming Solutions Act (2008)

▪ Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program

(2017)

Greenhouse gas inventory

▪Based on 2014 data▪ Updating this summer with 2016 data▪Community and City government operations inventories▪Identify sources of our contributions to climate change▪Track progress on emissions reductions

Community GHG emissions

What does that mean?

Stationary energy

Transportation

City government emissions

City government emissions

How could Somerville get to net-zero emissions by 2050?

Image Source: Hal Morgan

Somerville’s Carbon neutrality target

Emissions levels on reductions pathway

▪ The proposed reduction pathway shows the transitions that are likely necessary to realize these levels of emissions.

▪ Strong early action will be needed to achieve the 2030 levels ▪ Some offsets will be required to achieve the 2050 net zero carbon emissions

target.

YearEmissions

MT CO2e/YearPopulation

Pathway Emissions

per Capita

Science-Based Target

Emissions per Capita

2014 (Base Year) 608,123 78,900 7.7 NA

2020 (Reduction Pathway) 391,127 84,253 4.6 TBD

2030 (Reduction Pathway) 206,110 93,993 2.2 2.9

2050 (Reduction Pathway) 48,686 116,982 0.4 0.0

Carbon neutrality pathway core strategies

Lower-Carbon Electricity (29%)

Energy Efficiency - Existing Buildings (7%)

Energy Efficiency - New Buildings (2%)

Fuel Switching - Existing & New Buildings (10%)

District Energy - Existing & New Buildings (15%)

Paper and Plastic Waste Diversion (2%)

Transit Oriented & Mixed Use Development (2%)

Mode Shift (6%)

Fuel Switching - Passenger Vehicles (19%)

Fuel Switching - Trucks & Off-Road Vehicles (9%)

Carbon reduction core strategies

StrategyEmissions Reduction Potential (MT CO2e/Year) % of 2050

reductions2020 2030 2050

Lower-Carbon Electricity (CCA & RPS) 98,000 167,000 248,000 29%

Building Energy Efficiency 23,000 49,000 77,000 9%

Building Energy Fuel Switching 31,000 81,000 88,400 10%

District Energy 26,000 55,000 131,000 15%

Paper and Plastic Waste Diversion 7,000 10,000 13,000 2%

Transit Oriented/Mixed Use Development 3,000 8,000 20,000 2%

Passenger Mode Shift (from SOV to transit and walk/bike) 8,000 42,000 54,000 6%

Vehicle Fuel Switching (passenger - fossil fuels to electric) 16,000 56,000 161,000 19%

Vehicle Fuel Switching (trucks - diesel to biodiesel) 30,000 34,000 42,000 5%

Vehicle Fuel Switching (off-road - diesel to biodiesel) 3,000 8,000 20,000 2%

Possible reduction pathwayRemaining

emissions

Remaining emissions

MT

CO

2e

/ye

ar

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

What do we need to prepare for, regardless of meeting global emissions goal?

Climate change impacts

SLR & storm surge

2015 2030 2070

Precipitation Temperature

Vulnerability and risk assessment methodology

2030 and 2070 coastal flooding probability during a 1%/year storm (100-year storm)

Amelia

Earhart

Dam

Schrafft

Center

Pathway

Schrafft

Center

Pathway

Precipitation

▪Somerville is projected to experience a 30% increase in rainfall during a 100-year, 24-hour event by 2070.

Urban heat island and increase high-heat days

Analysis sectors

▪ Vulnerable populations▪ Age▪ Income▪ Education▪ Language isolation

▪ Human health▪ Emergency services▪ Economic impact

Example Vulnerability: Heat stress on people’s daily routines

▪ Urban form leads to regional and localized urban heat islands

▪ Heat stress during walking, cycling, and waiting for transit

▪ Air quality and changing allergy seasons

▪ Changes in conditions for disease carriers (e.g., mosquitos)

Example vulnerability: Future precipitation patterns on physical and economic systems

▪ Existing and future critical assets are

located in flood-prone areas.

▪ Somerville’s geography and topography

make us vulnerable to rain events.

▪ Infrastructure does not meet current

needs; however, current investments will

expand capacity.

▪ More frequent and intense disruptions to

transportation, buildings, and utility

systems that support economy.

Example: Amelia Earhart Dam is outside of City jurisdiction

▪ If no improvement made:▪ Flanking possible by 2035,

affecting shoreline neighborhoods

▪ Overtopping of dam by 2070, flooding in East Somerville, Winter Hill, Assembly Sq.

▪ Dam is owned and operated by the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation

Top priorities for climate preparedness

▪ Citywide precipitation▪ Amelia Earhart Dam failure▪Schrafft Center flooding

pathway▪ Police and Fire Headquarters▪ Transportation System

▪Economic Growth Areas▪ Citywide temperature increase▪ Public health impacts to

vulnerable populations▪ Open space and trees

Learn more at in-depth

presentations

Greenhouse Gas

Accounting

Wednesday, August

16th @ 6pm

Climate Change

Vulnerability

Assessment

Monday, August 21st

@ 6pm

Taking Action

BuildingsNatural SystemsUtilities and InfrastructureTransportationEnergy

Consumption & WasteHealth and WellbeingEconomic and Community Development Education & OutreachCity Operations

Somerville is a thriving, equitable, carbon neutral, and resilient city that is preparing for climate change while doing its share to prevent it.

Somerville Climate Forward

Small Group Discussion

Question to discuss:

What does a carbon neutral and climate prepared Somerville look like to you?

▪ Give everyone a chance to talk▪ Be respectful of everyone’s ideas

and opinions▪ There are no wrong ideas▪ Notes will be shared on

SustainaVille website

Next Steps

How to stay involved

1. Working groups2. Online participation: www.somervillema.gov/sustainaville3. In-Depth Baseline Meetings: @ Central Library Auditorium

▪ Greenhouse Gas Accounting - Wednesday, August 16th @ 6pm▪ Climate Change Vulnerabilities – Monday, August 21st @ 6pm

4. Engagement at SomerStreets and festivals5. Late fall community meeting

Topic Focused Working Groups

1. Buildings & Energy2. Natural Systems3. Utilities & Infrastructure4. Transportation5. Consumption & Waste

6. Health & Wellbeing7. Community & Economic

Development 8. Outreach & Education

Working Group Timeline

SummerIdea

brainstorm

FallScale to

Somerville

WinterRevise for

Implementation

July 9Deadline to sign up

Working Group Expectations

Expectations▪ Commit to attend three

meetings and complete some homework between meetings

▪ Meetings will be scheduled on Thursday evenings

▪ Sign up tonight or email Hannah Payne: hpayne@somervillema.gov

Why participate?▪ Opportunity to share your

expertise and local knowledge▪ Help contribute to the

development of actionable strategies for Somerville

▪ Community stakeholders and city staff will meet together

Next Steps

▪ Sign up for a working group if you’d like to get more involved ▪ Sign up for SustainaVille Updates to get updated on project development▪Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook/greensomerville

▪Email Hannah Payne hpayne@somervillema.gov to: ▪ Sign up for a working group▪ Ask a question or get more

information▪ Share additional ideas and

suggestions

Thank youAny questions?Hannah PayneSustainability Coordinator, Office of Sustainability & Environmenthpayne@somervillema.gov(617) 625-6600 x2422www.somervillema.gov/sustainaville

Photo credit: https://www.getfoundquick.com/seo-somerville-ma/

Credits

▪ Presentation template by SlidesCarnival