Metro, a regional leader in working with local officials to maintain livable, sustainable communities, will host a Climate Leadership Summit Friday, April 1, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Oregon Convention Center. More than 275 people, including members of Metro’s two advisory committees, the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT) and the Metro Policy Advisory Committee, are expected to attend the half day event, as well as elected officials, and business and nonprofit leaders from across the region.
At the center of the dialogue will be how to reach targets for greenhouse gas reduction from cars and light trucks, which are expected to be proposed Friday by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development.
The Portland metropolitan area will be the first in Oregon to create land use and transportation scenarios designed to meet the state targets, as required by House Bill 2001. The scenarios haven’t been designed yet: local leaders who attend the summit will provide input on what political, economic, social equity and other factors Metro should consider as it studies the issue and forms scenarios for the region to test in 2012. The scenarios must be in place by 2014.
"Last year we met with Nobel Peace Prize winner William Moomaw to learn about the science behind climate change and what local communities can do about it," said Carlotta Collette, Metro Councilor and co-chair of JPACT. "This year we are focusing more closely on steps we can start taking now. The good news is our actions will make our communities more fun and healthier to live in, with the environmental benefits being a bonus."
Friday’s summit attendees will first acclimate themselves to the discussion by zeroing in on public opinion across the region on topics of climate and local land use and transportation strategies that can help address the issue. Then public, private and nonprofit subject matter experts on development, labor, climate and energy will engage in a panel discussion. Panel members include:
- Connie Ashbrook, executive director, Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc., who will describe the success of her organization and partners to provide green economy jobs for women and minorities who are often left behind
- Greg Chambers, director of climate and energy for Nike, who will discuss the business case for climate action, Nike's work on climate change policies and how it has changed business practices to address the issue
- Craig Dirksen, mayor, City of Tigard who makes the city’s case for landing the region's next light rail line by building a walkable, vibrant regional center, and who contends that this effort wasn’t motivated by climate change, but that climate policies could help
- Dwight Unti, Tokola Properties Developer, who will share the challenges and opportunities that came as he built apartments and a grocery store in downtown Gresham. Fully leased in the midst of recession, Unti's project indicates market demand for climate smart development.
Finally, John Fregonese, a nationally acclaimed planning expert who has served in a number of public planning roles in the region, will involve the audience in a discussion and polling activity.
Outcomes from the summit will inform Metro’s planning process over the next six months and direct more detailed planning around key transportation and land use scenarios.
The summit tops off a week of climate and urban planning related discussions that started with a Tuesday visit to Metro by Patrick Condon, University of British Columbia professor and noted author, consultant and lecturer on sustainable community development. The middle of the week saw a gathering in Salem of the Oregon Active Transportation Association that concluded with a day of lobbying on Wednesday.
On March 29, the United Nations released a report saying that urban areas are set to become the battleground in the global effort to curb climate change. The report, entitled "Global Report on Human Settlements 2011, Cities and Climate Change: Policy Directions," said that while the world's cities were responsible for about 70% of emissions, they occupied only 2% of the planet's land cover. The study also said that that effective urban planning could deliver huge savings.
Metro, the regional government, crosses city limits and county lines to build a resilient economy, keep nature close by and respond to a changing climate. Representing a diverse population of 1.5 million people in 25 cities and three counties, Metro's directly elected council gives voters a voice in decisions about how the region grows and communities prosper.