Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions - August 9, 2022
Phoenix Records GHG Emissions Decline
The City of Phoenix's 2020 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory shows both community scale and government operations emissions decreased during that year.
“Our investments in energy efficiency, transportation electrification, and renewable energy have demonstrated progress toward Phoenix's Climate Action Plan goals," said Mayor Kate Gallego in a statement. “This work is crucial to ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future, and we will continue to deliver results in city operations and across our community."
The community-wide GHG emissions were 14% lower in 2020 than the 2012 baseline, while the metro economy grew by 42% and the city's population increased by 12%. Researchers from Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University found these reductions were primarily due to the electricity grid having a lower carbon intensity due to the closures of coal-fired power plants.
In government operations, Phoenix 2020 GHG emissions were 25% lower than the 2005 baseline.
While the City Vehicle Fleet did see an increase in GHG emissions due to increased service miles, Phoenix lowered carbon intensity of the fleet with the use of alternative fuels.
Due to the investments in energy efficiency projects, buildings and facilities saw a decrease in electricity use. Water services saw a decrease in emissions due to the capture and reuse of biogas at the 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant and a telework program led to decreased GHG emissions from employee commuting.
In 2021, the City of Phoenix's Climate Action Plan laid out another ambitious goal of reducing community carbon emissions from buildings, transportation, and waste by 50% by 2030, moving toward becoming a carbon neutral city by 2050.
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