CLIMATE ACTION PLAN - City of Urbana

1.4
DEVELOPMENT AND EMISSIONS
Urbana’s approach to development and greenhouse gas emissions focuses on the economy’s energy efficiency and the
greenhouse gas intensity of Urbana’s sources of energy.
Four economy-wide factors impact the energy related greenhouse gas emissions of a community: 5
1. Population
2. Economic Development
3. Energy Efficiency
4. Greenhouse Gas Intensity
Altering these factors, alone or in combination, can influence emissions. For example, as a city develops, there is an
increase in the energy required to power various human activities. However, the quantity of resultant emissions is a
factor of the quality of development (energy efficiency) and the sources of the energy supply (greenhouse gas intensity).
Improving the energy efficiency of new and existing developments decreases the energy intensity of a community and
contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, by transitioning to renewable and less polluting
sources of energy, excessive greenhouse gas emissions can be mitigated.
Urbana’s Climate Action Plan recognizes that it is crucial for Urbana to continue to develop economically and progress
towards becoming a more vibrant, attractive and resilient community. Therefore, the Urbana Climate Action Plan focuses
on those actions which improve the energy efficiency of the economy and the greenhouse gas intensity of the sources
supplying energy to the community. These factors are represented in Equation A:
Equation A:
Urbana’s Climate Action Plan focuses on these two factors.
{
Energy
Efficiency
Greenhouse
Gas Intensity
GHG**= GDP*** X Population X Energy X GHG
Person GDP Energy
** GHG: Greenhouse Gas
*** GDP: Gross Domestic Product
5
Adapted from Baumert, K. A., Herzog, T., & Pershing, J. (2005). Navigating the Numbers - Greenhouse Gas Data and International Climate Policy.
World Resources Institute.
City of Urbana
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