How Can Cities and Counties Cool Texas?
Climate scientists anticipate global warming to seriously affect cities and urban areas. Regional temperature increases will create more smog. Changes in precipitation will adversely affect urban water supplies. An increase in extreme weather events will cause damage to urban infrastructure; and sea level rise will eventually inundate infrastructure and settlements in many coastal cities. Local governments can influence many of the activities that produce greenhouse gas emissions. Areas where local governments can make significant GHG reductions are; • The operation of municipal buildings, street lighting, recreational facilities • Building codes and energy efficiency permits • Landfill sites • Waste management programs such as recycling or composting • Land use planning and development • Transportation infrastructure Portland, Oregon has developed its own global warming action plan that aims to reduce area greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent from 1988 levels by 2010. These reduction a
