In 2020, the City of Salem completed a Climate Actions Audit to document its efforts over the past decade to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The audit reviewed City projects, practices, programs, and plans aimed at addressing climate change.

Key Findings

The report included:

• A Review of Other Cities’ Climate Action Plans:
  
  • The City studied Climate Action Plans from 12 other cities.
  • It identified key elements to include in a Salem-specific Climate Action Plan.
  • Recommendations were made for steps Salem should take to develop its own plan.
• Comparison of Salem’s Actions to Other Cities:
  
  • Salem has completed 26 percent of actions and policies commonly found in other cities’ Climate Action Plans.
  • Areas where Salem is making progress:
    
    • Non-motorized transportation: Expanding options for walking and biking.
    • Green spaces and park connectivity: Improving access to parks and natural areas.
    • Clean power and energy use reduction: Reducing energy use in City buildings.
    • Water infrastructure: Improving water systems.
    • Mixed-use zoning: Increasing opportunities for mixed-use development.
  • Areas where Salem is lagging:
    
    • Building quality: Improving energy efficiency in buildings.
    • Parking restrictions: Reducing parking availability to encourage alternative transportation.
    • Mass transit: Expanding public transportation options.
    • Electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure: Increasing EV charging stations.
    • Local renewable energy production: Encouraging renewable energy projects in Salem.

Next Steps: Developing Salem’s Climate Action Plan

Work on Salem’s Climate Action Plan will begin immediately. The plan will:

• Use the 2019 Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory to set targets for reducing emissions.
• Align with the Our Salem Comprehensive Plan to ensure climate actions and policies are included in the City’s long-term planning.

The Climate Action Plan will help Salem take meaningful steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a more sustainable future.