The City of Grand Rapids in Michigan has released a community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory, along with ambitious reduction targets. The inventory, conducted by ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI USA) and supported by the E.H.Zero initiative, reveals that the Grand Rapids community generated 2,492,064 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCO2e) in 2019.
The City has set a science-based GHG/carbon emissions reduction goal of a 62.8% reduction per capita by 2030 and a 100% reduction per capita by 2050. These targets align with the Paris Climate Accord and have been adopted and formally embraced by City Manager Mark Washington.
City Manager Washington emphasizes the importance of setting goals and measures, stating, "We know that without goals and measures, sustainability commitments might be aspirational but not transformational. It is paramount that we work in partnership with our residents and employers to identify effective ways to achieve our community-wide targets."
The GHG emissions inventory highlights the three largest sectors generating emissions in Grand Rapids: residential and commercial buildings (38.5%), transportation (30.1%), and industry (25.1%). The primary sources of these emissions include electricity consumption (37%), natural gas usage (29%), and gasoline burned in vehicles (18%).
To gather the data for the inventory, actual information for electricity, natural gas, and steam was collected from Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, and Vicinity Energy. Transportation-related emissions were estimated using Google Environmental Insights Explorer, while the U.S. EPA's Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) was used to convert electricity consumption into GHG/carbon emissions.
In addition to the community-wide inventory, the City of Grand Rapids also calculated its own municipal GHG/carbon emissions for 2019, which accounted for 2.21% of the overall community-wide emissions.
The City's Office of Sustainability is currently working on the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) in collaboration with the community, including the Community Collaboration on Climate Change (C4) and the City's climate advisory teams. The CAAP will serve as a roadmap for recommended strategies and actions to reduce GHG emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
To provide more information about the GHG emissions inventory, The Office of Sustainability and ICLEI USA will host an informational webinar on Tuesday, February 27 at 6 p.m. Interested individuals can register for the webinar by emailing acookingham@grcity.us. The full report of the GHG Emissions Inventory and additional information can be found on the City's Climate Action and Adaptation website.
Those who want to express their opinions on the City's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan can also participate in a quick three-question survey, which will close on Thursday, February 29.
The City of Grand Rapids is taking a proactive approach to addressing climate change and reducing GHG emissions. By setting ambitious targets and involving the community in the planning process, they aim to create a sustainable future for all residents and businesses.
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