Big Cities
As global climate change has progressed, blame is often placed on large cities with industrial roots and large populations. This blame does not come without reason: according to CNN, cities are responsible for the majority of energy use worldwide (Could big cities lead the fight against climate change?).
With just over half of the world population currently living in cities, this means that more people in a smaller area are using more vehicles, more water, and, in general, more of everything. However, these cities are in an ideal situation to fight climate change. |
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Here are the TOP FIVE WAYS cities and the people living in them can help combat climate change.
Recycling Programs
City recycling programs help to reduce the amount of reusable material sent to landfills, processing it and creating new products for further use. According to recycling-revolution.com, recycling and composting “diverted nearly 70 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2000.” Recycling also conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals, lowering the toll of human consumption on the environment.
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Increased Emission Standards
The most common complaint related to pollution in cities is smog and air quality, but cities have begun taking measures to improve air quality. One such measure is to increase standards on exhaust emissions. Organizations such as the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) inspect vehicles and identify the ones producing more air pollution than expected. According to the DEQ, vehicles that fail emissions tests produce up to four times the pollution of those that pass. Cities may set their own emission standards in addition to national standards, and these programs in combination with the DEQ are highly effective in reducing harmful emissions. For example, in the early 1970s, Portland, Oregon, violated the national health standards for carbon monoxide an average of once every three days; through the efforts of the DEQ and other pollution reduction strategies, Portland has not once violated the carbon monoxide limitation since 1985. See Oregon DEQ: Air Quality Vehicle Inspection Program.
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Public Transportation
Another way cities can reduce their environmental impact is by encouraging public transportation. Portland, Oregon’s Trimet system is a great example of cities improving their public transportation and decreasing their pollution at the same time. In the fall of 2012, Trimet purchased 55 new hybrid-electric buses with an expected 20-50 percent improvement on fuel efficiency and a decrease in emissions of 95 percent (see Building a Better Bus). Improvements such as these encourage increased usage of public transportation, keeping cars off the road and emissions lower. These innovations also encourage further innovation to promote other methods of transportation, such as the creation of bicycle-friendly roads and electrical car hookups.
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Clean Energy
Cities are able to implement energy efficient policies and products due to the well-developed structure of government and resources. Many cities are also able to offer renewable energy to their citizens, with some energy companies providing 50% to 100% renewable energy (see Green-e.org). This in turn attracts companies and businesses that support renewable energy, reducing the energy costs of cities as a whole.
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