Recent satellite and ground-based data have indicated that Earth’s climate is changing at an alarmingly fast rate as the mean global temperature continues to rise. This effect is visible around the world and is already beginning to threaten both society and the environment (Kitchen, 2014). Our failure to limit the emissions of heat-trapping green-house gases (GHGs) today will lead to damaging and irreversible changes in climate tomorrow. For this reason, Lemon Grove has collaborated with the Sage Project at San Diego State University to generate possibilities for climate change mitigation and adaptation.This detailed report identifies the main objectives and aims of our initiative, which are intended to help Lemon Grove build a more equitable and sustainable future. These ideas have been developed specifically to reduce GHG emissions across many sectors, including: electricity, transportation, natural gas, solid waste, water, and wastewater. However, equally important are our adaptation policies, which will be just as critical in protecting Lemon Grove from the long-term impacts of climate change, such as cool zones, increased green space, and public education.This report also includes a chapter dedicated to the United Nations Toolkit. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, or UN-Habitat, recognized that many cities were in the initial stages of combating climate change and reducing GHG emissions. Most cities do not have any kind of climate action plan (CAP) that would raise awareness in their communities regarding mitigation and adaptation strategies. In response, the United Nations developed the “Guiding Principles for City Climate Action Planning.” This toolkit includes eight guiding principles that provide a resource for evaluating cities with current CAPs; these principles and resources can also be used to formulate a climate plan in cities that have little or no current plan. These principles address the following descriptors to be considered and addressed when formulating or evaluating a CAP: ambitious, inclusive, fair, comprehensive and integrated, actionable, evidence-based, and transparent and verifiable. In our case, Lemon Grove currently has not yet complet-ed their CAP; thus, we are utilizing these principles to collaborate with city officials and provide recommendations that will set them up for success with the development of their CAP. The goals of these field tests are to identify how the principles can be applied to cities of different socioeconomic statuses, help cities with their planning process, spread awareness of climate change, and receive feedback on the project.Keywords: climate change, city planning, energy conservation, greenhouse gas reduc-tion, mitigation, adaptationLemon Grove Climate Action Planning
Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.
The Sage Project Contact Info
Kristofer Patron
Program Administrator
kpatron@sdsu.edu
(619) 594-0103
University Faculty Contact
Zohir Chowdhury
Public Health
Local Government / Community Contact
Management