Author Archives: Thad Curtz

W6.4 Environmentally preferable purchasing policy Local governments require departments, agencies, consultants and contractors to use recycled products whenever possible and not cost prohibitive. Develop and maintain information about environmentally preferable and recycled products for use whenever possible. Bellingham’s Environmentally preferable … Continue reading →

A7.1 Marine vegetation (See A7.2 Blue carbon) Protect and enhance marine vegetation, such as eelgrass, to help clean water, sequester carbon dioxide, and improve fish habitat and survival. A7.2 Blue carbon Research actions to implement potential blue carbon programs in … Continue reading →

A6.1 Low-maintenance landscaping Promote the planting of low-maintenance landscaping. A6.2 Street tree plan Create a comprehensive street tree plan and/or planting guide, prioritizing goals for carbon sequestration, climate change resiliency, and other equitably distributed co-benefits. Include species that will thrive … Continue reading →

A5.1 Reforestation & afforestation program * Develop a coordinated reforestation/afforestation program. Begin by identifying priority areas where reforestation and afforestation may have carbon reduction benefits. A5.2 Community forests Support/expand community forests that consider carbon sequestration in their management goals. A5.3 … Continue reading →

A4.1 Natural area preservation Identify and establish a range of diverse, stable, long­-term funding sources for the acquisition, restoration and preservation of prime natural areas. A4.2 Conservation easements (See also A3.1 Farmland preservation.) Identify or develop local funding sources for … Continue reading →

(A note on food miles and emissions.) A3.1 Farmland preservation Support farmland preservation through policies, incentives, and other innovative strategies to maintain production capacity and increase self-sufficiency. A3.2 Food system assessments Encourage growth of local markets through market research and … Continue reading →

Estimates of the potential emissions reductions from agricultural sequestration vary, but none of them are large compared to our inventoried emissions. The current draft of the climate plan uses 0.5 metric tons of CO2/acre-yr as the estimate for the potential … Continue reading →

A1: Reduce emissions from agricultural practices A1.1 Manure management Provide education and incentives (grants, loans, technical assistance) to support manure management to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions, such as covered manure storage facilities, manure application practices. A1.2 Nutrient management … Continue reading →

A1: Reduce emissions from agricultural practices A1.1 Manure management Provide education and incentives (grants, loans, technical assistance) to support manure management to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions, such as covered manure storage facilities, manure application practices. A1.2 Nutrient management … Continue reading →

W6.1 Emissions monitoring Determine and implement effective ways to track consumption based emissions. The inventory protocol for calculating our local emissions was developed by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (founded in 1990 as the International Council for Local Environmental … Continue reading →