Portland's Local Action Plan to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions

In 1993 Portland, Oregon was the first U.S. city to adopt a local action plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In 2001, the city of Portland and Multnomah County released a new, joint local action plan. Portland and Multnomah County address various environmental aspects to reduce emissions. Local and state governments and local utilities joined to support an aggressive electricity conservation effort. Support of the public transportation system also helped reduce emissions. Portland and Multnomah County focus on the following six action plan components in their effort to reduce emissions including energy efficiency initiatives, transportation reductions, renewable energy resources, recycling, forestry, and community education.

The 2001 action plan, which is more aggressive than the Kyoto Protocol, calls for a 10 percent reduction below 1990 carbon dioxide emissions by 2010.

Through implementation of the 1993 plan, by 1997 Portland's transit ridership increased by 30%, auto commutes to the central business district were cut by 15%, and solid waste disposal per household was reduced 13%. Also, per capita greenhouse gas emissions were 3% below 1990 baseline levels.