We can all breathe a little easier about the fresh air we enjoy at Open Streets 704, now that Charlotte has joined the ranks of 19 other cities named by Bloomberg Philanthropies as an American Cities Climate Challenge winner. The Climate Challenge is naming 25 cities (originally 20) across the United States to receive grants and logistical resources to meet goals reducing their carbon footprint.
“We’re taking a really big step forward for Charlotte,” says Charlotte’s Sustainability Director Rob Phocus. “It’s an opportunity for our leadership and our community to really walk the walk.”
The American Cities Climate Challenge accelerates Charlotte’s efforts to make its transportation system and buildings more energy-efficient. Buildings and transportation account for roughly 80% of a city’s emissions, according to Bloomberg Philanthropies. Money from the $70 million program will allow Charlotte’s sustainability office to share technical expertise with cities that have already cut emissions in important areas, says Phocus. The support will help Charlotte address its highest-impact projects first.
Phocus says the first year of the two-year program is about getting the city organized and outlining a plan for reduction. As part of the program, Phocus will add two more employees to his office, nearly doubling the number of people who work there. One will focus efforts on transportation solutions; the other on buildings. The office will also get logistical support from an implementor, or task master of sorts, and a program manager from the National Resources Defense Council.
Cities who participate in the Climate Challenge agree to uphold and pursue the goals of the Paris Agreement for climate change, which sets its sights on making sustainable solutions that help grow the economy, protect public health, and improve quality of life.
That’s big news to Scott Curry, the Active Transportation Coordinator for the City of Charlotte. “Active Transportation” is another way of saying “getting around with your feet,” and Curry is part of the city’s planning department for bike and pedestrian travel. He’s part of the team that helps organize Open Streets 704, the car-free events which encourage enjoying the town from ground level.
“One of the core values of Open Streets 704 is wellness,” says Curry. “We know that residents who participate in Open Streets 704 are more likely to leave the car at home and try walking, biking, or taking transit as a part of their daily routine.”
Framing the Climate Challenge around the two pillars of reducing emissions from buildings and transportation means Open Streets 704 and its goal of wellness are right in line with the goals of the city’s new grant. “That’s great for air quality, and it’s a key way that Open Streets 704 supports wellness year-round,” says Curry.
Two days before the Climate Challenge win was announced, Charlotte City Council voted to pass the city’s first Strategic Energy Action Plan, to reduce per capita carbon dioxide emissions from 12 tons to 2 by 2050. In the next two years, the city will retrofit buildings to create deep energy cuts, promote renewable energy, and stifle sprawl through smart growth policies.
You’ll also hear more about community-wide efforts to get all of Charlotte on board for saving energy, including the use of electric vehicles. The city plans to upgrade some of its fleet to electric in the next few years. The Bloomberg American Cities program also includes microgrants and technology to smooth the way for these efforts.
“The impact of this support can’t be undervalued,” says Phocus. “We need this to move forward.”
Click here to learn more about the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge. https://www.bloomberg.org/press/releases/michael-r-bloomberg-names-charlotte-winner-bloomberg-american-cities-climate-challenge/
