What is the Climate Action Plan?
The Salem Climate Action Plan will be a strategic plan to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. The plan will be co-created with the Salem community and organizational partners and will help guide municipal and local work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for and adjust to the current and future impacts of climate change.
Why is the City doing this project?
City Council called for the preparation of a climate action plan as part of their
2019 Policy Agenda. The City Council's decision follows a recommendation from the
2017 Strategic Plan.
What opportunities are there for public input in the process?
At each stage of the process, there will be
opportunities for the public to learn about and provide feedback on the Salem Climate Action Planning process.
Is the City coordinating this project with Our Salem?
The Salem Climate Action Planning Process will be closely coordinated with
Our Salem, the City's ongoing project to update the Salem Area Comprehensive Plan, as climate action strategies are likely to achieve multiple and overlapping community goals.
Below are some of the ways the two projects will intertwine.
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Timing: The timelines for the Our Salem project and Climate Action Plan project have been aligned to ensure the two projects can inform each other.
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Staff: The same staff are working on both projects to ensure continuity. For example, the project manager for the Our Salem project is serving on the Climate Action Plan task force.
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Goals: The draft vision for the Our Salem project includes goals related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The goals will be updated to reflect City Council’s recent vote to set specific GHG reduction goals for the Climate Action Plan.
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Policies: Staff leading the Climate Action Plan will provide examples of potential policies related to climate change that can be included in the Our Salem project. They will also help facilitate an Our Salem meeting on policies related to the environment in the spring.
What climate actions has the City completed so far?
In 2019, the City conducted a comprehensive
Climate Actions Audit to identify completed actions, ongoing practices, and adopted plans that address climate change. Much of the City work has been incorporated into routine maintenance and operating practices, constructed as capital improvement projects, integrated into City plans, or incorporated in the Salem Revised Code. Also in 2019, the City completed a
Greenhouse Gas Inventory. This report provides a clear picture of where emissions in Salem come from as well as establishes a baseline from which to measure future reductions. In 2020, the City joined
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, which is a global network of more than 1,750 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Membership provides the City with numerous tools and resources to assist in setting greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and tracking progress.