Today, the Office of Sustainability released a draft of the Philadelphia Climate Action Playbook, a guide to actions the City is taking to reduce carbon pollution and adapt to a hotter, wetter future. The Playbook is a one-stop resource for anyone interested in learning more about City climate action, how climate change will impact Philadelphia, where our carbon pollution comes from, and where we need to go further to achieve our goals.
Why a Climate Action Playbook?
In 2015, the world’s nations came together in Paris to acknowledge the reality of climate change. People were already feeling the impact: hotter summers, increased precipitation, and stronger storms. 196 countries committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to limit these impacts, and these commitments are known as the Paris Climate Agreement.
The City is committed to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. As part of the C40 Cities Deadline 2020 Initiative, cities across the globe are creating plans like Philadelphia’s. These plans demonstrate how cities are reducing carbon pollution and adapting to climate change to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
What Does the Playbook Include?
The Playbook outlines the climate actions Philadelphia is taking to meet these goals through 2050. The Playbook is NOT a new plan. It brings together actions from existing plans and programs across City departments and agencies to provide a more comprehensive view of how we are working to respond to the climate crisis. The Playbook outlines climate actions in three areas:
- Reducing our Contribution to Climate Change – Actions to reduce carbon pollution. These come from three main sources: buildings and industry, transportation, and waste.
- Utilizing Nature as a Solution to Climate Pollution – Actions to remove carbon pollution from the atmosphere.
- Adapting to a Changing Climate – Actions to prepare Philadelphia for a hotter, wetter future.
We Want to Hear From You — Take the Climate Action Playbook Public Survey
To understand how Philadelphians are responding to climate change and how they feel about actions the City is taking to respond to climate change, we are seeking Philadelphia residents’ thoughts and feedback through the Climate Action Playbook public survey. Take the survey (5-10 minutes) to let us know your thoughts on climate action in Philadelphia. The survey closes on January 29 at 11:59pm.
- Take Climate Action Playbook Public Survey (in English).
- Take Climate Action Playbook Public Survey (in Spanish).
Continuing to emit carbon as usual will have devastating impacts on our city and our planet. It will take commitment and collaboration from many stakeholders to meet our climate goals. Together, we can work to build a more climate resilient Philadelphia.
