Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP)

Consumption & Materials Management Upstream emissions from the production and transportation of food and goods account for 48% of Ashland’s total emissions—more than any other sector. A large portion of food emissions are from the production of meat, and household goods emissions are largely from home construction, furniture, clothing, and vehicle purchases. 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. Encouraging greater local food production would have emissions reduction benefits while simultaneously improving food security and availability for Ashland’s residents. Climate change may disrupt global supply chains and thereby affect the cost of household goods and services that local residents and businesses rely on. In some cases, buying “local” can reduce the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with the goods and services we buy--but not always. A peer-reviewed study found that the production of food accounts for 83% of the average American food-related greenhouse gas footprint, while the transport of food only represents 11% of lifecycle emissions.6A reduction in red meat consumption can therefore be a more effective means to reduce a household’s food-related climate footprint than “buying local.” The strategies in this plan address both the production and transportation emissions associated with consumption of food and goods. While emissions from consumption are large, they are “indirect” emissions that are not under the same level of community control as the local, sector-based emissions. 6 Source: Weber and Matthews (2007).While Ashland might change local development codes to address building energy, there is no similar ability to influence production efficiencies for imported goods and services. Therefore, Ashland’s potential actions related to consumption and materials management mostly center on influencing consumption behavior and supporting a variety of local and/or more sustainable purchasing options for its residents. Climate change is also expected to increase stressors such as pests, disease, and drought on the region’s small local agriculture sector, potentially reducing the availability of local food. Global climate change could also disrupt global markets and supply chains, potentially resulting in global price increases and resource scarcities. 72 ASHLAND CLIMATE & ENERGY ACTION PLANCONSUMPTION & MATERIALS MANAGEMENT72