City’s climate action plan aims for a greener future

Ann Simon recalls when her family used to eat most meals outside during Albuquerque summers, whether on a patio or at a park.

“I don’t think we’ve done it once this summer, either because it was too hot or there were too many mosquitoes,” she said. “We all know that the climate is different than it was even 15 years ago.”

The decade from 2010 to 2020 was the city’s hottest on record and 2023 was the hottest year. This summer is on track to be one of the most sweltering in recent memory as well.

Simon is the deputy director of policy and sustainability officer at the city. She oversees the Climate Action Plan , which launched in 2021. It contains 50 strategies intended to reduce the city’s carbon footprint through cleaner transit and better energy management of hundreds of city-owned buildings. There are initiatives to reduce urban heat and motivate residents to cut down on waste. The city has said it wants to reach 100% renewable energy use for government operations by 2025, and Simon said progress has been made to achieve the goal.

The office said some of its documented progress since the launch includes at least 125 energy efficient retrofits of city facilities saving $54 million in operating costs; a 2,600 tons per year reduction in greenhouse gas emissions through an audit by Yearout Energy of 50 facilities; and the implementation of one of the country’s first of its kind real-time data programs that corrects the overuse of cooling, heating and lighting in municipal buildings, saving about $300,000 a year.

Simon said the efforts have reduced greenhouse gas emissions and updated data will be available later this month. The last inventory of greenhouse gas emissions was done in 2022.

Other benchmarks since the plan’s inception include the addition of more than 100 low- and zero-emissions vehicles to the city’s fleet. Since 2019, the number of city-owned publicly available electric vehicle (EV) charging stations has increased from two to 20 (equalling 36 charging ports) — a situation, Simon said, where supply creates demand. The number of stations falls short of the Climate Action Plan’s goal to reach 30 by 2021.

The sustainability efforts picked up widespread support from the City Council in April when it unanimously passed an updated sustainability ordinance to better align with the Climate Action Plan and changes in technology, replacing years-old measures that were on the books. When Mayor Tim Keller signed it into law in June, City Councilor Renée Grout said she supported it because the updates make it easier to measure progress through cost-benefit analyses that emphasize taxpayer savings.

The ordinance also put a spotlight on the disproportionate effects of climate change in the city’s underserved neighborhoods — communities that often endure more exposure to air and water pollution and have unequal access to resources. In response, Simon’s office organized a Justice40 oversight committee, modeled on the federal version , which directs 40% of climate change funds to low-income and disadvantaged areas.

‘Low-hanging fruit’

Simon said she’s aware that climate change can be an overwhelming and seemingly abstract topic, leaving many feeling like there’s not much in their power to make an impact. She said her office has tried to prioritize the more tangible “low-hanging fruit” and “touchstones.”

Simon’s staff of seven works with the Transit Department on ABQ RIDE initiatives, including a mobility project to offer more micro transit and car sharing options to low-income residents. The office also coordinates with neighborhood organizations, the Public Service Co. of New Mexico and Prosperity Works , to identify older homes that need energy-efficient upgrades.

“We help them install heat pumps and weatherize their windows,” Simon said. “We do what’s called a blower door test to find out where the leaks are; we wrap the furnaces [and] upgrade electrical panels or appliances.”

Heat pumps are a more energy-efficient way to heat and cool a home. Simon said a recent $1.7 million infusion of federal funds will help to expand the home upgrade program’s reach by six fold.

“We all live in these old homes — most of the housing stock in Albuquerque is from the 1950s. It shouldn’t just be people with means who can upgrade,” she said.

Part of the Climate Action Plan involves macro-level green stormwater infrastructure and design, and a more visible, daily connection for residents through the 100,000 by 2030 tree planting program overseen by the Parks & Recreation Department. Adding trees helps tamp down the urban heat island effect and reduce utility costs.

In addition, Simon said what will be one of the more tangible touchstones is a forthcoming food waste pilot program through the Solid Waste Department. The program will shed light on the impact of composting and “circularity.”

“Circularity is keeping things in use longer,” she said. “Once something goes to the landfill, that’s the end of its life. We want to make sure that whatever we have is either able to be reused or be stripped down and repurposed.”

Simon said most residents would probably be surprised to learn how significant the volume of food waste is at the Cerro Colorado landfill, which adds to methane emissions and greenhouse gas.

“It may sound silly: Why would waste have anything to do with how hot I am? You kind of have to take the long view,” Simon said.
For more information and to read the Climate Action Plan, click here .

The post City’s climate action plan aims for a greener future appeared first on City Desk ABQ .