Life in the Metro area will be very different in 20 years.
We’ll be driving less and walking more. Our homes and businesses will use less energy and will get more of it from renewable sources. We’ll be growing more of our own food, either in the backyard or at community gardens. Thousands of new trees will blanket the city.
And really Portland, you should stop eating so much red meat.
These scenarios and suggestions, are some of the highlights in a just released 2009 Climate Action Plan for Portland and Multnomah County. While behind the scene talks continue on an Oregon climate change bill, and Washington lawmakers vote on watered down versions, Portland and Multnomah County are charging ahead.
The goals in the plan are ambitious. First to reduce greenhouse emissions 10% below 1990 levels by next year. (That goal has already been met.) Next, reduce emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Do all this while at the same time the number of people living in Multnomah County increases by 82%.
It means major cuts in how much energy we consume. To meet the 2030 goals, we’ll have to reduce how many miles we drive by 29%, cut electrical use by 32% and use 16% less natural gas.
But the plan also outlines a series of steps to help us get there. Here are some of the actions proposed for the next three years.
- Create a $10 million fund to help homeowners and businesses make their building more energy efficient.
- Start planning neighborhoods that are more walkable so people can use their cars less.
- Find the money to add another 8 miles of streetcar lines.
- Improve recycling rates, especially the composting of food waste, so we produce less coverage.
- Show people how to grow their own food and create another 1,300 community gardens.
There’s much, much more in the full report. City and County leaders are asking for public input. You can read more and fill out an online survey at this link:
Tonight, there’s a town hall style meeting at Portland State University to highlight the plan. Among the government officials taking part are Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Multnomah County Commissioner Jeff Cogen, Portland Mayor Sam Adams and Oregon House Representatives Ben Cannon and Jules Bailey.
The event starts at 6pm in Hoffmann Hall.
