Category Archives: Climate Change

Consider Creating an Emergency Air Quality Implementation Plan

Be prepared for poor air quality in Salt Lake City, create an Action Plan!

Breathe Utah has a great Emergency Air Quality Implementation Plan toolkit to help you create your own action plan for bad air days. Enacting a plan can help reduce the number of red air days and improve our community’s health. Utahns are known for emergency preparedness, so why not have an emergency air quality plan in place?

Know in advance when the air quality will be unhealthy;
Plan how to avoid or reduce driving on those days to lessen the health impacts of air pollution on our community;
- Take public transit, carpool, telecommute, trip-chain, walk or bike!
Test the plan in advance to work out any problems before the red or yellow air days are upon us;
Share with others that you have made this plan to inspire them to create their own; and,
Finally, act on your plan, because now you will have a plan in place and will know exactly what to do when the air quality deteriorates.

Thanks Breathe Utah! Visit their website for more details.

[Free Event] Our Melting Ice: Climate Disruption and Energy Choice

Our Melting Ice: Climate Disruption and Energy Choice
Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 7 pm
Salt Lake City Main Library Auditorium – 210 East 400 South
Free, Public Event!

Join us for a climate change speaker panel and screening on Thursday, January 7th. University of Utah Professor Summer Rupper will share experiences from traveling and researching remote, melting parts of our planet. Professor Rupper will be joined by a local organizer from Sierra Club, Lindsay Beebe, who will talk about energy choices in Utah and their connection to public health and climate change.

We’ll start the evening with a 60-minute screening of Episode 4 of the Emmy-award winning series Years of Living Dangerously. This will be followed by a 30-minute panel with our local experts. Episode 4 of the series focuses on Arctic ice melt, energy choice and the faith-climate change nexus.

Speaker Bios
Professor Summer Rupper teaches a course on Snow and Ice and performs related research for the University of Utah. Professor Rupper’s research focuses on glaciers and ice sheets as recorders and indicators of climate change, and as freshwater resources. Recent and ongoing projects include quantifying glacier contributions to water resources, quantifying glacier sensitivity to climate change, reconstructing past climate using ice core data, and more. She has published over 20 peer reviewed publications in her field.

Lindsay Beebe is the Sierra Club Organizing Representative for the Utah Beyond Coal Campaign. She works with volunteer leaders, partner organizations, and decision makers to promote a just transition away from coal-fired power and towards a clean, renewable energy future. Current campaigns include protecting Utah national parks from coal-fired pollution aka ‘regional haze’, supporting the roll-out of the Clean Power Plan in Utah, and watch-dogging anti-renewable energy policy proposals.

Visit our website for more information.

SLCgreen Releases 2015 State of Sustainability Report

For the first time ever, Salt Lake City Green has released a State of Sustainability Report. 2015: State of Sustainability in Salt Lake City is an overview of Salt Lake City’s hardworking Sustainability Division, which began in 2008.

The Sustainability Division (otherwise known as Salt Lake City Green, or SLCgreen) aims to preserve and improve our built and natural environments and provide people with information on sustainability issues affecting Salt Lake City. The Division of Sustainability develops goals and strategies to protect our natural resources, reduce pollution, slow climate change, and establish a path toward greater resiliency and vitality for all aspects of our community.

2015: State of Sustainability in Salt Lake City covers the core areas of the division, from air quality, climate change, energy and food to curbside recycling, garbage, compost and glass.

We’re excited to give you a look at what we’ve accomplished to date, and what we’re proud to be working on!

Explore the State of Sustainability. Download the report (PDF).

Feedback? Email us at SLCgreen@slcgov.com.

We’re excited for another fantastic year — see you in 2016!

Salt Lake City Statement on Historic COP21 Agreement

Update: RadioActive producer Lara Jones visits with Mayor Becker on KRCL 90.9FM about what he saw at the COP21 climate conference, and specifically, the role American cities will play in addressing climate change. Listen here!

Mayor Becker Releases Statement following COP21 Agreement

Mayor Becker in Paris

“On Saturday, the world came together to agree on an accountable, transparent approach to address climate change. I commend President Obama and other leaders for achieving this historic, milestone accord that provides a path to success. For me, it was an honor and a privilege to be a part of this widely collaborative and inclusive process.

Cities have played a prominent role leading up to the Paris talks and will be needed even more as we implement the goals established in the COP21 agreement. U.S. communities had the largest delegation among the 400 cities participating in Paris. Through the Compact of Mayors, a growing number of mayors and our partners established goals, plans and actions in an accountable, transparent process that will allow us to show everyone how we are going to achieve success in reducing our carbon emissions.

Now, we must take the steps with our public and private partners to dramatically decrease carbon emissions through comprehensive actions. Clean, affordable energy in our community development and transportation systems are at the heart of a successful future. Cities are the key to giving our kids the safe, healthy environment they deserve.”

Salt Lake City Passes Carbon Fee & Dividend Resolution

On Tuesday, November 10, 2015, the Salt Lake City Council and the Mayor’s Office passed a joint resolution that urges Congress to pass a fee on carbon-based energy, and have the revenue be returned to American households in the form of a dividend.

This is the approach advocated for by the local chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Leaders from Salt Lake City’s Citizens’ Climate Lobby will be featured panelists at the upcoming Years of Living Dangerously screening on Thursday, December 3rd at 7 p.m. at the Main Library Auditorium, hosted by Salt Lake City Green and the Utah Film Center.

If you would like to learn more about the carbon-based energy fee and dividend movement, visit CitizensClimateLobby.org and watch their short video.

Climate Week: Years of Living Dangerously Film Screenings

Salt Lake City Green, in partnership with the Utah Film Center and the Salt Lake City Public Library, are excited to announce a special screening series of the groundbreaking Showtime series, Years of Living Dangerously.

https://vimeo.com/78162825

The free film screenings will be held on the first Thursday of each month beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Salt Lake City Main Library Auditorium. A local speaker panel will be featured following each screening.

The first screening is scheduled for November 5, 2015 and will feature Susan Soleil of Utah Interfaith Power and Light.

We’re excited to offer this incredible series to Salt Lake City residents free of charge!

Learn more & RSVP to the Facebook event.

Climate Week: Steps to Eliminate Food Waste

Today is World Food Day. World Food Day is a day of action against hunger. On October 16, people around the world come together to declare their commitment to eradicate hunger in our lifetime. Because when it comes to hunger, the only acceptable number in the world is zero.

Reducing food waste is an important component of climate action at home and worldwide.

Worldwide Food Waste Facts

Every year, consumers in industrialized countries waste almost as much food as the entire net food production of sub-Saharan Africa (222 million vs. 230 million tons)
The amount of food lost and wasted every year is equal to more than half of the world’s annual cereals crops (2.3 billion tons in 2009/10)
More facts

North American Food Waste Facts

In the USA, organic waste is the second highest component of landfills, which are the largest source of methane emissions
In the USA, 30-40% of the food supply is wasted, equaling more than 20 pounds of food per person per month
More facts

So what can you do? Here are the recommendations from the United Nations Environment Programme, Regional Office of North America:

Think. Be a smart shopper and think about what you are buying and when it will be eaten. Wasting food is often a subconscious act – become aware of how much food you throw away. Plan meals and use shopping lists. Bring your leftovers home from restaurants in reusable containers.

Eat. Become a more mindful eater. Eyes bigger than your stomach? Request smaller portions and become a leftovers guru.

Save. Save your food, save your money and save the environment. Donate to food banks and become a conscious consumer.

Learn more at FoodDayUSA.org.

Climate Week: Dining with Discretion

On Sunday, October 18th at 8:00 a.m. SLCgreen’s Bridget Stuchly and Tyler Poulson will present at the World Parliament of Religions. Their presentation, Dining with Discretion: Food Choices Matter, outlines how personal choices about what and how we eat impact our environment and can either contribute to, or help alleviate, climate change.

The Presentation

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Dining with Discretion from SLCgreen

Take Action!

Long story short, there are some very real steps you can take in your everyday eating habits that will have a positive impact on the environment:

Eat less meat & dairy
Eat more plants
Cook smart
Waste less
Speak out

Source: Meat Eaters Guide to Climate Change + Health

Climate Week: Salt Lake Climate Leaders

During 2015, Salt Lake City launched its Salt Lake Climate Leaders program to engage municipal employees and develop their knowledge base and professional skills in order to create more effective climate change leaders.

The program engages employees who have expressed an interest in professional development and leadership skills related to sustainability. Participants attend interactive monthly meetings and build momentum for more effective and strategic action on climate change across all City departments.

The culmination of the first Salt Lake Climate Leaders program is Salt Lake Climate Week. You can learn more at SLCgreen.com or explore all Climate Week posts on the Green Blog.

Climate Week: Five Actions You Can Take Today!

Climate action starts with you! Here are five simple actions you can take today to begin reducing your climate impact.

1. Use Cold Water Detergent and Cold Water Setting for Clothes Washer

	Pounds of CO2 Reduced Annually: 1,270
	Annual Savings: $92

Heating water consumes a lot of energy – 90% of the total needed to wash your clothes – always use a cold-water setting and detergent.

2. Replace Your Furnace Filter and Manage Your Thermostat

	Pounds of CO2 Reduced Annually: 1,800
	Annual Savings: $124

Every degree F saves 3% on cooling / heating – set to 60 at night or unoccupied during winter and 78 in summer. Dirty furnace filters waste energy and should be changed every three months.

3. Properly Inflate Your Tires and Ride with Hive

	Pounds of CO2 Reduced Annually: 400 (tires only)
	Annual Savings: $95 (tires only)

Regularly check and inflate your tires to improve MPGs by 3% – more tips to save fuel at FuelEconomy.gov.
SLC residents, visit RideWithHive.com for details on the City’s discounted transit pass. Just $42 / month, a 50% discount, gets you unlimited rides on the bus, TRAX and S-Line.

4. Replace at Least Five Lights with LEDs

	Pounds of CO2 Reduced Annually: 500 (per five lights)
	Annual Savings: $40 (per five lights)

90% of the energy used lighting an incandescent bulb goes towards generating heat, not light. LED lighting is the cheapest lifecycle cost option – purchasing plus operating costs – and Rocky Mountain Power offers great incentives for homes and businesses.

5. Use Reusable Water Bottles and Mugs – Plus, Downsize Your Garbage Can

	Pounds of CO2 Reduced Annually: 580 (Reusable Drink Containers Only)
	Annual Savings: $150 (Reusable Drink Containers Only)

Manufacturing bottles, cans and other drink containers takes energy and creates emissions. Reduce your footprint and save cash by using reusables. SLC residents should Google SLCgreen for many more waste tips and additional ways to save, like downsizing your garbage can. Moving from a 90-gallon bin to a 40-gallon bin will save you $87 / year on your trash bill. There is also a 60-gallon option that will save you money.