Introduction Home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Southern Oregon University, and abundant natural beauty and recreation opportunities, the City of Ashland is a great place to live and visit. 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% decrease in winter snowpack, 90 more days of extreme heat annually, and more than an inch of additional rainfall during heavy storms.1 The City of Ashland has a responsibility to address climate change risks by reducing emissions and preparing the city for unavoidable impacts. Cities around the world are leading in this endeavor, including more than 125 cities and counties in the United States that signed the Compact of Mayors agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for climate change. Governments in the Pacific Northwest have led the charge on climate action, including the State of Oregon, which established a statewide target to reduce emissions by 75% below 1990 levels by 2050. Other Oregon cities have set greenhouse gas action goals, including Corvallis, Eugene, and Portland. The City of Ashland has already taken initial steps to address climate change. Achievements include the solar power incentive program, home energy efficiency incentive programs, participation in and support of community outreach and awareness events such as Climate Week in 2015, and integration of climate change impacts into the Water Master Plan and 2016 Ashland Forest Plan. However, more work is needed. According to scientific models, to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, Ashland, along with the rest of the world, will have to reduce its greenhouse has emissions 1 Source: Oregon State University (2016). by 8% per year.2 Every year this reduction is not met will mean that more reduction will be needed in the future. Ashland’s foundational Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP) provides a strategic framework and long-term vision for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for climate change in the city. It represents the culmination of a year-long process of engagement, input, and review from the public, key community stakeholders, City staff, and a Mayor-appointed committee. Participants voiced their concerns and priorities through online surveys, three public open houses, interviews, and facilitated workshops with City staff and committee members. This plan builds on this input and community progress to date by presenting a coordinated set of goals and strategies to guide City and community action. This plan provides a roadmap for Ashland to sustain economic, social, and environmental prosperity for current and future generations of residents and visitors. It represents the beginning of an ongoing and evolving process. Implementation of the actions and attainment of targets set forth in this plan requires a long-term, dedicated effort by the Ashland community and all City departments and staff. As detailed in the Implementation Plan, the Ashland Climate and Energy Action Plan will be updated every three years to ensure that the city's actions toward addressing climate change are up-to-date, sufficient for meeting the City's goals, and beneficial for all. As progress is made and actions are underway, this plan and its future updates will serve as a foundation for taking meaningful action toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building resiliency to climate impacts in and around Ashland. 2 Source: Hansen (2016). 14ASHLAND CLIMATE & ENERGY PLANINTRODUCTION