Less than half of Miami Beach residents are satisfied with the city efforts to be a green or sustainable city. Reducing GHG emissions is an important step to increasing satisfaction. There are several pledges and commitments adopted by organizations to demonstrate their commitment towards becoming more sustainable and reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigate climate change. The Race to Zero, Under2 Coalition and United Nations (UN) Climate Change’s Climate Neutral Now pledges are widely recognized commitments where organizations commit to GHG emissions reductions while planning for the challenges of climate change.
Under2 Coalition
The Under2 Coalition is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the goal of building a world of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Under2 Coalition brings together signatories and endorsers of the Under2 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), a climate agreement for subnational governments. Signatories to the Under2MOU are required to provide information to support their commitment regarding emission reductions consistent with a trajectory of 80 to 95% below 1990 levels by 2050 and/or achieving a per capita annual emission goal of less than 2 metric tons by 2050.
The information requested involves specific areas of action, including but not limited to:
o Energy - share information and experience on redesign of the power supply and grid, technical solutions and advances in promoting large-scale switch to renewable energy and the integration of renewable energy sources, actions needed to ensure security of supply, and strategies to promote energy efficiency
o Traffic and Transport - take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from passenger and freight vehicles, with the goal of broad adoption of "zero emission vehicles” and development of related zero emission infrastructure
o Natural Resource Protection and Waste Reduction - collaborate on methods to reduce emissions from the natural resources and waste sectors, which exist at the nexus of climate mitigation and adaptation activity
o Science and Technology - collaborate and coordinate on scientific assessment efforts and share information in technology development and deployment
o Communication and Public Participation - collaborate and coordinate on messaging, transparency, public outreach around climate change, mitigation of GHG emissions, adaptation, and the subject matter of this MOU
o Short-lived Climate Pollutants - collaborate on the reduction of short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon and methane, which will provide near-term air quality benefits, while also reducing potent climate forcing pollutants
o Inventory, Monitoring, Accounting, Transparency: work towards consistent monitoring, reporting, and verification across jurisdictions, and will work through mechanisms such as the Compact of States and Regions and the Compact of Mayors to that end
Race to Zero:
The Race to Zero is a global campaign from C40 to rally leadership and support for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon transition. C40 is a network of megacities across the world committed to addressing climate change.
By committing to the Race to Zero campaign, cities pledge to publicly endorse the following principles:
o Recognize the global climate emergency
o Keep global heating below the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement
o Incorporate climate action at the center of urban decision-making, to create thriving and equitable communities
o Help C40 deliver on science-based action to overcome it
o Adopt a science-based emissions reduction target
o Plan at least one inclusive and equitable climate action
o Report progress annually beginning no later than 2022
Climate Neutral Now:
The United Nations Climate Change launched the Climate Neutral Now initiative in 2015 to encourage organizations, governments and citizens to work towards global climate neutrality by 2050 or earlier. By joining the initiative, organizations commit to the following immediate actions with the goal of accelerating the transformative change needed to reach global net zero GHG emissions:
o Quantify GHG emissions
o Develop a plan to reduce those emissions
o Consider contributing to further emission reductions and sustainable development through credible carbon market mechanisms