CitiesGoGreen -September 2008 - (Page 28) Special Report An ICLEI Foundation: The Five Milestones Methodology Five steps take local governments from wherever they start to effective, organized, measured, institutionalized climate change action. These Milestone recipients are part of an elite group of local governments who have shown the leadership it takes to achieve the level of greenhouse gas emissions reductions that the world’s scientists say we need. The Five Milestone process is the cornerstone of local governments’ achievement and accountability on their climate protection goals. — Michelle Wyman, Executive Director of ICLEI-USA Milestone Awards presentation, 2008 ICLEI Local Action Summit in Albuquerque, NM The Five Milestones Methodology is the foundation of a local government’s involvement with ICLEI. The Milestones are stages representing the necessary steps in moving from a decision to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to full and effective implementation. As ICLEI members move through the Milestones they use the software tools developed and refined by ICLEI. The first is the inventory tool, simple enough that a college intern can perform the initial assessment for a modestly-sized city. These tools make each stage of the work, from inventory to constructing a plan to implementation and reassessment, easier and more accurate. A framework for tracking emissions reduction progress ICLEI’s Five Milestones provides a simple, standardized means of • Calculating greenhouse gas emissions, • Establishing targets to lower emissions, • Developing a climate action plan, • Reducing emissions, and • Monitoring, measuring and reporting performance. Milestone 1: Conduct a baseline emissions inventory and forecast A greenhouse gas emissions inventory is the big picture perspective on the main sources of pollution within a jurisdiction’s limits. The city first calculates greenhouse gas emissions for a base year (e.g., 2000) and for a forecast year (e.g., 2015). The calculations capture emissions levels from all municipal operations (e.g., city owned and/or operated buildings, streetlights, transit systems, wastewater treatment facilities) and from all community-related activities (e.g., residential and commercial buildings, motor vehicles, waste streams, industry). Why conduct a greenhouse gas emissions inventory? The act of quantifying 28 .com emissions through an extensive inventory enables local governments to identify priorities and better manage energy use. The inventory serves as a solid foundation for all climate protection work and together with the forecast provides a benchmark for planning and monitoring progress. Milestone 2: Adopt an emissions reduction target for the forecast year The local government passes a resolution establishing an emissions reduction target for both its own operations and the community as a whole. The target is essential. It both fosters political will and creates a framework that guides the planning and implementation of measures. It is usually expressed as a percentage reduction below the quantity of emissions released in the baseline year. ICLEI generally advises developing short- and long-term target years such as 2015 and 2050. Milestone 3: Develop a local climate action plan Once a local government has an understanding of emissions sources, quantities and reduction targets, ICLEI helps guide them in developing a climate action plan, ideally with robust public input from all stakeholders. Members are able to draw on cutting edge decision support tools, an extensive peer network and staff expertise to ensure inclusion of best practices in climate protection and sustainable development. The plan details the policies and measures that the local government will take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve its emissions reduction target. Most plans include a timeline, a description of financing mechanisms, ICLEI’s Support for Five Milestones Progress ICLEI members have access to emissions quantification analysis tools, technical training, membership support, local climate protection expertise and other services that strategically guide local governments through sustainability goal setting and realization in accord with the methodology. The ICLEI Membership Team helps members track their progress through the Five Milestones and, members are recognized for their progress at every ICLEI national event. and an assignment of responsibility to departments and staff. In addition to direct greenhouse gas reduction measures, most plans also incorporate public awareness and education efforts. Milestone 4: Implement policies and measures Implementation of the Local Climate Action Plan is the most important step because this is where the reductions actually happen. Typical policies and measures include energy efficiency improvements to municipal buildings and water treatment facilities, streetlight retrofits, public transit improvements, installation of renewable power applications, and methane recovery from waste management. Milestone 5: Monitor and verify results Monitoring and verifying progress is an ongoing process. Monitoring begins once measures are implemented and continues for the life of the measures, providing important feedback that can be use to improve the measures over time. Annual or biennial inventories are essential to monitor progress and adapt target levels and Action Plan elements as appropriate. ICLEI’s software provides a uniform methodology for cities to report on measures. “ I attended the ICLEI Local Action Summit this spring for the first time. As a newly elected member of our county council I found the staff to be helpful and informative. Each staff member I had contact with went out of their way to make sure I had the needed information and resources to come back home and pursue a greater green economy in our county. Mike Cooper, Councilmember, Snohomish County, Washington September 2008 ” http://CitiesGoGreen.com
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