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Plan Development The Climate Inheritance Resolution, passed by the City Council in May 2016, included a commitment to creating a Climate Action Plan (CAP) that significantly reduces greenhouse gas levels to protect the community's children and grandchildren from the risk of climate destruction. The development of the CAP was spearheaded by the city's Environment and Sustainability Coordinator, Shannon Pinc, and the Climate Action Plan Advisory Committee. The advisory committee was formed to develop goals and to be the citizen -led decision -making body. The advisory committee was made up of several residents — many of whom participated in the PiE process — and one staff member. Members of the Roots and Shoots Program at St. Louis Park High School were invited to review the plan and develop ideas for how the youth can be a part of implementation. Greenhouse gas assessments were completed for both city operations and community -wide energy use. Preparation of the Greenhouse Gas Assessment for City Operations (Appendix E) involved data collection for building, fleet, contractor, and personnel -related travel, consistent with the Local Government Operations Protocol for the Quantification and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories, produced by ICLEI. This information was used to develop recommendations for city operations to guide the city's efforts in leading the community toward carbon neutrality. As a Regional Indicator Initiative (RII) participant, the city had already completed and established a benchmark from which it could set targets toward achieving its goals. RII is a program that measures annual performance metrics (including energy, water, travel, waste, and GHG emissions) to help cities meet their environmental goals. This data was updated to include the most recent years and provide a better picture for how the city has used energy the previous ten years. The city is also a participant in the Local Government Planning for Energy Project (LoGoPEP), a new program designed to help local governments achieve energy goals. As part of LoGoPEP, a wedge diagram tool was created for energy and greenhouse gas reduction planning (See Appendix F for methodology). The analysis of the wedge diagram tool reflects the specific energy use and GHG generation pattern in St. Louis Park, helping to identify the most impactful strategies. Utilizing the wedge diagram tool, specific strategies were identified to reduce emissions. This information informed the decisions of the advisory committee as it developed goals across seven action areas to move the city toward its 2040 carbon neutral goal. The action areas with the greatest potential for impact are: 1. Large Commercial Efficiency 2. Small Commercial Efficiency 3. Net Zero Construction 4. Residential Efficiency S. Renewable Electricity 6. Transportation Emissions Reduction 7. Waste Reduction and Diversion The CAP is organized by Goals, Strategies, Initiatives, and Actions. The goals were set for 2030 as midway point for the city to assess its progress toward becoming carbon neutral by 2040. The strategies were determined through the development of the wedge diagram tool and illustrate targets for potential emissions reductions. Specific initiatives and actions were designed to support implementation of the plan and produce significant emissions reductions across sectors, both now and into the future.