Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP)

Station 6Consumption and Waste City of Ashland Climate and Energy Action Plan Open HouseGoals, Strategies, and Actions:For mitigation: The scale of consumption-based emissions as a category is large relative to Ashland’s emissions from energy, transportation, and local government. Because Ashland’s industrial sector is small and there is no significant agriculture within city limits, the Ashland community relies almost entirely on imported goods, food, and energy products to meet its needs. A large portion of food emissions are from the production of meat. Emissions from household goods are largely from home construction, furniture, clothing, and vehicle purchases.For adaptation: Local agriculture may become stressed from pests, disease, and drought under future climate change, potentially reducing the availability of local food. Climate change may also disrupt global supply chains and thereby affect the cost of household goods and services.While these emissions are large, they are “indirect” emissions that are not under the same level of community control as the local, sector-based emissions. While Ashland could change local development codes to address building energy, there is no similar ability to influence production efficiencies for imported goods and services.Why is it important?Consumption and Waste refers to emissions and climate change risk associated with the lifecycle of goods and materials. It includes opportunities to reduce emissions associated with manufacturing, use, and disposal, as well as ways to address risks to supply chains and food availability due to climate change.What are we talking about? What are we already doing? Ashland exemplifies its commitment to reduced waste and local sourcing through a variety programs, ordinances, and offerings, such as:Proportion of overall emissions Relevance to addressing priority climate risks Level of City influence Bans on plastic bags and Styrofoam containers. Residential curbside recycling programs and outreach.48% Community garden programs, farmers markets, and co-ops.