Time to move way beyond "business as usual"

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released another important set of policy recommendations in Berlin this week. In light of the fact that heat-trapping emissions grew more quickly in the first decade of this century than in any of the three previous decades, we are reminded again that "business as usual" in the energy world isn't leading to a more stable climate.

Scientists have been telling us for years that to avoid dramatic disruptions in climate, the world needs to limit global warming to no more than two degrees Celsius (about 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit).

But we have collectively waited so long to start making serious cuts to emissions that the pressure is very much on: To stay within the "safe" levels of warming, we must lower greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 70 percent by mid-century (with 2010 levels as the base point), and to near zero by the end of the century. Whoa!

The IPCC remains confident we can achieve these cuts, although the longer we wait, the more expensive it will be for all of us.

The report calls for policies that we at PennFuture have been recommending for years, recognizing that using less energy is as important as using clean energy. PennFuture played a keep role in enacting Pennsylvania's energy efficiency standard (Act 129) in 2008, and has been recommending to Harrisburg policymakers since then that we increase efficiency standards.

Although Pennsylvania's population isn't expected to change significantly in the decades ahead, global population seems likely to increase greatly, with billions of people simultaneously wanting to increase their standard of living -- both factors leading to potentially huge increases in energy demand. So, energy efficiency at the global level becomes ever more important.

As Youba Sokona (co-chair of the IPCC Working Group that released the report this week) points out, "The core task of climate change mitigation is decoupling greenhouse gas emissions from the growth of economies and population."

Take a look at PennFuture's new Clean Energy Wins report that offers a roadmap for how state government can grow Pennsylvania's economy while shrinking its carbon footprint.

Joy Bergey is federal policy director for PennFuture and is based in Philadelphia.

Making a city more energy efficient

This post is contributed by Ana Chirinos in PennFuture's Pittsburgh office. Chirinos is a Green Cities Fellow working with the Black and Gold City Goes Green campaign.

ReEnergize Pgh is a coordinated effort to reduce home energy consumption throughout Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. It is made up of non-profits, utilities, environmental awareness groups, municipalities, energy auditors and community organizers, all with the common goal of increasing demand for energy efficiency services. 

This year, ReEnergize Pgh started an Energy Ambassador program. It's a take on traditional block captains but with a green twist.  An Energy Ambassador is someone who has been identified as a community leader. This person has roots in their area and the capacity to inspire and motivate others. Energy Ambassadors share information about various sustainable initiatives. They also organize energy efficiency workshops, open house home energy audits, appliance exchange programs, and other green opportunities.

Energy Ambassadors work with PennFuture's Black and Gold City Goes Green campaign to coordinate Neighborhood Blitzes in their community. This partnership between ReEnergize Pgh and Black and Gold helps to further the community goals of the Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan. 

There are 16 Energy Ambassadors in 14 communities across the Pittsburgh area. This is a widespread community engagement and education campaign, adaptive to neighborhoods of different demographics, and intentional about connecting people directly to energy efficiency resources. Energy Ambassadors are essential because of their ability to convey information in an appropriate way to people in their neighborhood. 

Overall, the mission of these Energy Ambassadors is to decrease energy waste, resulting in a measurable reduction in a community’s carbon footprint. While quantifiable metrics are important, the potential for community engagement may be the most important point in such a program. After all, taking a wasted resource and making it a community asset is paramount in the transformation to a sustainable community.