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Roseville 2040 Chapter9: Resilience and Environmental Protection 4. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION Background Since greenhouse gases (e.g. carbon dioxide) trap heat within the atmosphere, acting to reduce these emissions can help mitigate future climate risks.' Minnesota Statute 216H.02 establishes a goal "to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors producing those emissions to a level at least 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2015, to a level at least 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2025, and to a level at least 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050." The latest statewide analysis shows that Minnesota is not currently on track to achieve these targets, with only a 4% reduction from 2005 levels in 2014? With many human activities contributing to the emission of these gases — from driving to work to burning natural gas to heat a home — local governments like the City of Roseville can have a strong influence on the emissions caused by activities within its boundaries. Roseville can lead by example to reduce emissions from City operations through strategies like improving building and fleet efficiency and replacing fossil fuel use with renewable energy. Additionally, the City can use education, incentives, and regulation to impact emissions from residents and businesses. According to the Regional Indicators Initiative, in 2016 Roseville is attributed with an estimated 13.1 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) per person for a total of468,159 tonnes.' The greatest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the community comes from building energy consumption, making up 56 percent of total emissions (FIGURE 9-1). Broken down by sector, the commercial and industrial sector accounts for 39 percent, while residential energy use accounts for 17 percent of all emissions. Broken down another way, electricity emissions account for 33 percent and natural gas emissions account for 23 percent of the community's total. Emissions for vehicle travel make up 42 percent, and treatment of municipal solid waste is 2 percent. Additional sources of emissions not included in this analysis come from air travel and wastewater treatment. ' Wuebbles, D.J., D.W. Fahey, K.A. Hibbard, B. DeAngelo, S. Doherty, K. Hayhoe, R. Horton, J.P. Kossin, P.C. Taylor, A.M. Waple, and C.P. Weaver, 2017: Executive summary. In: Climate Science Special Report: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume I . U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 12-34, doi: 10.7930/JODJ5CTG. ' Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, "Minnesota's GHG emissions: 1990-2014and Next Generation Energy Act goals," 2017, d oi:10.1007/978-1-4419-7991-9. ' Metric tons (tonnes) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) is the typical unit used for greenhouse gas inventories. Along with carbon dioxide, CO2e includes other greenhouse gases (methane and nitrous oxide) that are weighted based on their global warming potential. A metric ton is equal to 1.102 short tons. Chapter9 I Page 7