–City joins LA, San Francisco, and Oakland as the fourth California city to sign the historic ‘Under2 MOU’ agreement–
The City of Sacramento today signed and delivered its Under2 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) – pledging to roll back greenhouse gas emissions to far below 1990 levels. Sacramento is the fourth city in California to endorse the Under2 MOU, joining Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland. By becoming a signatory, the City joins a coalition of 134 governments from six continents and 32 countries that have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions towards carbon-neutral levels by 2050.
The memorandum:
- Reiterates goals the City previously adopted in the General Plan.
- Supports competitiveness for green investment and funding.
- Connects the City to a global network of the leading clean energy investors, companies, and innovators.
- Provides new opportunities to partner with other cities and governments from around the world.
The Under2 MOU identifies the commitment of states, regions, provinces, and cities to achieve the greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals of 2 metric tons per person, per year, or 80 to 95 percent below 1990 annual levels by 2050.
The City is pledging the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions even with anticipated future growth. The City had a population of 398,256 in 1990. Expected population in 2035 is 635,000, with more growth anticipated before 2050.
“As we grow, the City is continuing to lead the way by becoming a greener operation and implementing more sustainable, innovative strategies,” said City Manager John Shirey.
Priority strategies are mixed-use development, green building practices, and programs for energy efficiency and renewable generation.
From 2005 to 2013, the City achieved a 24 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from municipal operations with energy efficiency improvements, retrofits to City streetlights, and transitions to alternative fuels in the City fleet.
The City has implemented numerous sustainability initiatives to date. In 2011, the City created one of the first Property Assessed Clean Energy financing programs in the United States in partnership with Ygrene Energy Fund. As of spring 2015, the City has converted the entire inventory of more than 9,000 mast arm streetlights to energy-efficient light emitting diodes (LED), The City has already converted all lighting in its eight City-owned parking garages to LED. The City has been recognized as the #1 Green Fleet in North America, with 21 percent of the fleet using alternative fuels. The City recently leased two new hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles, the Toyota Mirai. Lastly, the City-owned Golden 1 Center will be one of the most, if not the most, sustainable sporting venues in the country.
Councilmembers Allen Warren, Steve Hansen and Eric Guerra along with City Manager John Shirey and staff represented the City as a new Under2 MOU signatory at the Sub-Clean Energy Ministerial in San Francisco today. At this event, City representatives are participating with other signatories to cooperate on efforts for deep de-carbonization.