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Ashland prepares response to climate change Thursday Dec 8, 2016 at 6:30 PM Dec 9, 2016 at 10:19 AM By Julie Akins for the Tidings Brian Sohl has some very important reasons for being concerned about climate change. “I’m involved because I have kids. I worry about the future for them,” Sohl told a packed room in Southern Oregon University’s River Room on Wednesday night. He and a panel charged with creating a Climate and Energy Action Plan presented a final draft addressing local responses to global warming. The plan has been in the works for the past 14 months with three open houses, online surveys and the committee creating ideas to address climate change. It’s anticipated that after the public reads through the final draft some changes will be made before it’s brought to the City Council for approval. The draft is published online on the city’s website, www.ashland.or.us, in the "city news" section. If the City Council approves it, it's unclear whether the council would make the plan a resolution that acts as a guiding principle or as an ordinance with the force of law. Councilor Rich Rosenthal, who serves on the committee, told the audience it will be up to the council how they wish to handle the recommendations, however, it's been supported by the mayor and council throughout the process. “When you pass an ordinance it requires a public hearing,” said Rosenthal. "If it’s an ordinance it shows a seriousness about implementing it." The city of Eugene passed a climate change ordinance that the committee members considered as they prepared the final draft for Ashland. The final draft report does not sugarcoat the impacts of global warming on Ashland: “Climate change threatens the vitality, livelihood, and surrounding environment that make Ashland what it is, with anticipated increases in severe heat, water scarcity, wildfire risk, and storm events. By the 2080s, scientists project that Ashland will experience more than an 80 percent decrease in winter snowpack, 90 more days of extreme heat annually, and more than an inch of additional rainfall during heavy storms.” The committee was charged with developing a plan that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare the city for climate change. The plan has six focus areas: Land use and transportation that encourages shorter commutes, less driving and better mass transit; Lessening consumption as a city and as individuals; Resource conservation; Providing help for disadvantaged people who are less likely to be able to afford resources as climate change worsens; Cross cutting strategies that document and track Ashland’s progress in addressing climate change and Priority actions, which are those items on a short list that need to move forward more quickly, such as identifying sustainable energy sources. Susan Rust, an 18 year resident of Ashland, said the city is taking a proactive approach. “I watched this process moving along and there's been a real attempt to engage the public," she said. "I think the Ashland mindset is a groundswell believing that climate change has to be dealt with. I'm very hopeful.” Rust said she plans to look at her home and her habits to see if she can lower her carbon footprint. She said the small things if done by everyone would add up. Ivy Amann, a student at Ashland High School, said she, too, felt hopeful about the plan and the public’s involvement. “It was super beneficial. It was a way to share with the public so we can take charge of our emissions. It (the plan) helps us feel like we have a huge part. It was inspirational and motivating.” Amann said the results of how global warming is dealt with will come down on her generation. While she's glad the plan is moving forward, she said she wishes it could have occurred sooner. “It’s frustrating to learn that this could have helped years ago but we’re only now taking action," Amann said. "It’s hindsight bias. We can see now that we should have done something 10 years ago but we’re just now getting to it.” City Councilor Mike Morris, who attended the release of the final draft plan, said it’s unlikely that global warming can be affected adequately by only reducing emissions individually and collectively, although the plan is a start. “There’s going to have to be more technological changes to get us there. Everyone is hoping that technology is going to solve it, but it’s not there yet.” In the meantime there's a collective interest in doing what’s currently possible to reduce emissions, Morris said. The City Council is expected to hear the full plan at 7 p.m. Feb. 7 during its regular business meeting in council chambers at 1175 E. Main St. — Email Ashland freelance writer Julie Akins at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/@julieakins.