Agenda - Planning Commission - 03/06/2014

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change will be and emphasize increasing our flexibility to survive and thrive regardless of how climate change develops. The nation has seen the risks and costs of not preparing for significant climatic events through the experiences of Duluth after its summer 2012 flooding, New York City after Superstorm Sandy, and, most recently, Colorado after the September 2013 rains. Hitting the most densely - developed parts of the nation, Superstorm Sandy may cost the federal government $60 billion. The total cost to the city of Duluth in infrastructure repair and replacement ran to $80 million or $2,000 for each city household. While each event individually was impossible to predict, the growing frequency and large-scale impact of severe weather events demonstrate the necessity of planning for resilience. The Council is committed to building a resilient region that minimizes its adverse contributions to climate and air quality and is prepared for the challenges and opportunities of a changing climate. Recognizing the importance of climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience, the Council will use climate impacts as a lens through which to examine all of its work. The Council will look for opportunities to use both its operational and planning authorities to plan for and respond to the effects of climate change, both challenges and opportunities. In addition to climate change, regional air quality factors (criteria pollutants) threaten both the quality of life and our economy as we may face severe additional regulations from the federal government. The Council recognizes the State of Minnesota's goals for greenhouse gas reduction adopted in 2007's Next Generation Energy Act. By tracking regional greenhouse gas emissions, we will identify opportunities to reduce emissions in the region. Broadly, the Council's work supports the region's collective efforts to minimize greenhouse gas emissions by: • Providing and promoting alternatives to single -occupant vehicle travel, including transit, carpooling, bicycling and walking; • Promoting compact, pedestrian -friendly development patterns and funding their development through the Livable Communities Act funds; • Protecting industrial land with access to ports and rail to encourage carbon -efficient means of transporting freight; • Supporting the Regional Parks System to protect open spaces and vegetative cover that mitigate the impact of the urban heat island and improve local wind circulation; • Investing in and pursuing local renewable energy generation for operations, including large scale solar facilities; • Promoting more efficient water use and water conservation, which reduces the amount of energy used to pump and treat water, often one of a community's highest energy requirements; • Protecting agricultural land for local food production to reduce distance -to -market travel emissions. The Council intends to expand its role supporting local governments in climate change planning to assist their efforts toward mitigation, adaptation and resilience. The Council will: • Expand the information and technical assistance it provides to local governments to support regional and local climate change planning; • Work with partners to collaboratively identify and examine the feasibility of energy improvement opportunities and pursue group purchasing to facilitate energy improvements where this might provide synergy and/or an improved economy of scale; DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Last revised: February 21, 2014 31