U.N. Releases New Report & Santa Monica’s 2019-2020 GHG Emissions are Calculated

August 12, 2021 8:50 AM
by Drew L. Johnstone

A major new report released this week by the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that scientists are observing changes in the Earth’s climate “…in every region and across the whole climate system,” with many of the changes being “unprecedented in thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of years.” 

While some of the changes are irreversible, the IPCC underlined that “…strong and sustained reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases would limit climate change.”  Without these reductions, limiting warming to close to 1.5°C or even 2°C will be beyond reach.  Stabilizing the global rise in temperatures is possible, but will still result in increasing heatwaves, droughts, and floods.

To provide a snapshot of Santa Monica’s impact on emissions, staff from the Office of Sustainability and the Environment have recently updated the City’s Sector-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory. This inventory method allocates emissions among residential, commercial, transportation, and aviation sectors according to annual energy use and carbon intensity of energy use for each. It also assigns emissions to solid waste disposal based on the tonnage of materials hauled to regional landfills. 

In 2019, Santa Monica’s emissions totaled 882,249 MT CO2e or 36% below 1990 levels.  

In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, Santa Monica’s emissions decreased 37% compared to 2019, primarily attributed to reduced vehicle use and cleaner sources of electricity.  In 2020, emissions totaled 555,188 MT CO2e or 60% below 1990 levels. 

Tailpipe emissions from vehicles are the largest source of global warming-causing pollutants in Santa Monica.  The second-largest source of emissions comes from burning fossil fuels in buildings, commonly referred to as “natural gas.”  

Taking Action

As a community, we see the effects of climate change happening here: beach erosion, extreme climate events like wildfires and heatwaves, and inequitable access to resources.  Adopted in May 2019, the City of Santa Monica’s Climate Action & Adaptation Plan set ambitious goals for reducing our water, waste, and energy use to help mitigate the effects of climate change.  Some of our high-level goals and recent updates from this plan include:

• Procuring 100% renewable grid electricity
  • Over 95% of Santa Monicans do this through participation in the Clean Power Alliance which launched mid-2019
• Creating zero net carbon buildings and reducing fossil fuel use in existing buildings by 20%, by 2030
  • Santa Monica can achieve this through all-electric building codes for new construction and incentivizing retrofits of existing buildings
• Converting 50% of local trips to foot, bike, scooter, or skateboard; 25% of commuter trips to transit; and 50% of personal vehicles to electric or zero-emission by 2030
  • The City is working to expand protected bike lanes and incentives are available for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure
• Becoming water self-sufficient
  • The City encourages and enables efficient water use, elimination of urban runoff, and climate-appropriate landscapes
• Diverting 95% of materials from landfills and averaging 1.1 pounds of waste per person per day
  • The City’s recycling and composting activities are expanding in order to meet local goals and State requirements

The work described in the Climate Action & Adaptation Plan will take community support and participation with bold action. Here’s a look at two key resources available to you to create a more sustainable community:

New Sustainability Calculator for Residents

To help us all make more sustainable choices, the City of Santa Monica Office of Sustainability and the Environment launched a new tool to help you calculate your environmental impact so we can better connect you to available resources and programs. This quick quiz will provide opportunities for individuals to take immediate action towards supporting citywide climate goals. Visit www.santamonica.gov/sustainableSaMo to start your journey.

Electrify Santa Monica

In existing buildings, replacing gas-burning equipment with efficient electric alternatives will play a key role in helping the City reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.  The Office of Sustainability & the Environment offers a rebate program to spur local investment in clean energy technology, improve air quality and safety.  Rebates are available for single-family residences, multi-family residences and small businesses.  Eligible equipment includes heat-pump water heaters, heat-pump HVAC (heating and air conditioning), electric foodservice equipment, EV chargers, and electric panel upgrades.  Click here for rebate requirements and learn how to apply.

 

Authored By

Drew L. Johnstone
Sustainability Analyst