Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP)

Inform and work with residents, organizations, and government Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building resilience to climate impacts in Ashland is a community- wide effort. Everyone, including residents, businesses, organizations, institutions, and departments within the City itself, must understand what is needed and work together to take action. This strategy involves the City working closely internally and with the public, local stakeholder groups, and other jurisdictions and agencies to communicate climate priorities, coordinate action, and inspire change. The City must continue to learn from and listen to these parties to ensure that actions are coordinated, relevant, and effective. This strategy involves paying particular attention to equity considerations in the context of climate change (see “Climate and Equity” section on page 113). Specific strategies within the Climate and Energy Action Plan that support this education and coordination effort include: • Educate and empower the public. • Educate and empower City staff. • Mainstream climate considerations. • Enhance City communication and coordination to minimize public health and safety impacts. • Promote a sustainable local economy that minimizes emissions and vulnerability. • Engage with other governments and organizations on regional, statewide, national, and international climate policy and action. Reduce consumption of carbon- intensive goods and services The production and delivery of goods and services consumed by Ashland households contribute almost half of Ashland’s greenhouse gas emissions. These goods and services include food, furniture, home construction materials, electronics, and clothing; and the production of transport fuels, natural gas, and electricity consumed in Ashland. Certain foods, such as meats, are more carbon-intensive to produce than dairy and grains, and therefore contribute the largest proportion of food- related emissions. Despite the large contribution of household consumption to Ashland’s greenhouse gas footprint, the City of Ashland has little direct control over household purchasing behavior and product manufacturing and transportation. As a result City-initiated options to reduce emissions from this source are limited. However, it is expected that as global markets and energy sources become greener over time, so too would the goods and services that Ashlanders consume. Strategies in the Climate and Energy Action Plan that contribute toward reducing emissions associated with consumption of goods and services are: • Reduce consumption. • Support sustainable and accessible local production and consumption. These strategies promote reduced consumption, facilitating marketplaces for reuse and sharing such as tool-lending libraries and reuse fairs, expanding the construction and demolition debris code to promote material salvage; sustaining local food production such as through farmers’ markets and community gardens; and distributing outreach and education materials on the impacts of consumer choices. 37 ASHLAND CLIMATE & ENERGY ACTION PLANVISION FOR THE FUTURE