Interesting read Union of Concerned Scientists How global warming is changing the Northeast — and how choices we make today will determine our children's and grandchildren's quality of life.

Cambridge is the ideal city for this first of a kind, energy alliance to create a large-scale, cross-sector efficiency initiative.  The City of Cambridge recognizes that global warming, or climate change, poses significant potential impacts.  To this end, the City of Cambridge has made a commitment to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions.  Dating back to 1999, Cambridge joined the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP).  This campaign, sponsored by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, helps committed cities to create a city-specific greenhouse gas emissions inventory and subsequently set targets and strategies to reduce these emissions through a comprehensive and well-defined plan.

Among the climate change initiatives presently operating in Cambridge are green buildings, energy management, alternative fuels & vehicles, transportation demand management, urban forestry, and waste management.

For more information on Cambridge initiatives for climate change

SUMMARY OF CAMBRIDGE CLIMATE PROTECTION ACTIONS

Cambridge Climate Protection Plan

The City of Cambridge joined the Cities for Climate Protection campaign sponsored by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability in 1999.  Cambridge is one of over 700 local government members, including over 350 in the U.S. and 30 in Massachusetts.  Cambridge has also signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement sponsored by the City of Seattle and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.  Under these commitments, the City has:

• Set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010.
• Developed a Climate Protection Plan.
• Set a goal to draw 20% of the municipal electricity load from renewable sources by 2010.

Municipal Climate Protection Actions

To set an example, the City has undertaken a number of actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations, including:

Energy

• Created an energy management task force to systematically assess City buildings for energy performance and to identify and implement efficiency improvements.  To date, 16 projects have saved 1.6 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and 16,700 therms of natural gas, which together reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,230 tons annually and save the City $284,000 a year.  The City, working with the state’s Rebuild Massachusetts program , has created a Web-based energy information system to track energy use at City facilities.
• The City has a goal to obtain 20% of its municipal electric load from renewable sources by 2010. The City is working to install renewable energy systems at municipal facilities wherever feasible and is planning to purchase renewable energy certificates for the balance. 

Green Buildings

• Adopted the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for City projects involving new construction or major renovations.  City Hall Annex, re-opened in 2003, achieved a LEED-Gold certification.  Certifications are being sought for the new field house at Russell Field, and LEED is being applied to the Main Library expansion, the Robert W. Healy Public Safety facility, the War Memorial swimming facility, and the West Cambridge Youth Center.

Transportation

• Cambridge was rated as the "2008 best walking city" in the United States by Prevention Magazine.
• Formed a green fleet committee to develop policies and procedures to improve fuel economy and lower emissions from municipal vehicles.  New purchasing procedures require departments to compare 3 vehicles by fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions when requesting new vehicles.  During the current fiscal year, new vehicles have improved fuel economy compared to the replaced vehicle by over 30%.
• Provide incentives to all municipal employees to encourage commuting by any means other than single-occupancy driving.  MBTA passes are subsidized and employees have access to shuttle bus and car-pool matching services.
• Working under the City’s Parking & Transportation Demand Management Ordinance, Cambridge employers are reducing drive-alone commuting through subsidies of MBTA passes, support of shuttle bus services, provision of bicycle facilities, and support of car and van pools.
• Promoting and supporting bicycling and walking, including traffic calming projects, installation of bicycle lanes and markings on streets, bike rack installations, and the Cambridge Walks program.  Countering regional trends, a greater percentage of Cambridge residents commuted on transit, bicycles, or on foot in 2000 than in 1990.

Purchasing & Recycling

• Issued purchasing policies on Energy Star compliant equipment and recycled paper.
• Started an organics collection service for restaurants, markets, and other food service operations through the Department of Public Works, with support from the MassDEP.  Food and other organic waste is collected for composting.
• The City’s recycling program operated by the Department of Public Works reaches all households and many small businesses, picking up a wide range of materials.  Cambridge’s recycling rate is now at 32%.

Community Climate Protection Actions

The citizens of Cambridge and its institutions and businesses are strong supporters of climate protection.  Among their actions:

Universities

• MIT solar PV capacity is up to 63.45 kw
• Harvard University and MIT both have programs to make their campuses more sustainable.  Both institutions have inventoried their campus greenhouse gas emissions.  The Harvard Green Campus Initiative supports green building design and construction, purchasing of renewable energy certificates to offset carbon emissions, dorm-based programs to promote resource and energy efficiency, use of biofuels in its diesel vehicles, and extensive recycling including composting of food waste.  MIT has a highly efficient 21-megawatt co-generation plant to generate electricity and steam, has installed 22 kilowatts of solar photovoltaics on campus, and has increased its recycling rate significantly.  MIT has also made energy a priority for research, education, and campus operations through its new Energy Initiative.

Businesses

• To date 24 Cambridge businesses and organizations have joined the Cambridge Climate Leader program.  Participants pledge to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through actions on energy, transportation, and waste management.

Places of Worship

• Six Cambridge places of worship participate in the Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light.  This organization helps places of worship of all faiths to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings and use renewable energy.

Residents

• Green Decade/Cambridge was formed by citizens to promote action on global warming through education and advocacy.  Working with the City, Green Decade/Cambridge has successfully recruited residents to contribute to the New England Wind Fund and qualify the City for a free solar photovoltaic system installation through the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s Clean Energy Choice program.