In 1999, New Orleans joined the CCP Campaign in an effort to help mitigate the health and environmental risks of climate change, which include: Increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, Worsened air pollution and related health effects such as asthma, Ecological and agricultural disruption, and Sea level rise, resulting in more flooding for low-lying areas such as New Orleans. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as methane and nitrous oxide, trap heat that would otherwise escape into space. Some of the greenhouse effect is natural and needed, but human activities have tremendously increased this effect. About a third of CO2 emissions, the major GHG, come from industry, a third from transportation, and a third from residential and commercial buildings. On March 15, 2001, the New Orleans City Coundil adopted a resolution to decrease municipal greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by the year 2015. It is already clear that this target will be surpassed, and another target may be set. In October 2001, a final Baseline Greenhouse Gas Emissions Profile was completed for both municipal and community-wide emissions. See attached adobe file for the entire document.

Agriculture and industrial practices, including landfills, also emit significant amounts of other GHGs such as methane and nitrous oxide. The level of methane in the atmosphere has doubled since 1860, and nitrous oxide has increased by 15%. Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexaflouride are recently invented GHGs that are widely used as refrigerants, fire extinguishents, and in a variety of industrial processes. Together these gases and CO2 have atmospheric lifetimes ranging from decades to centuries; today's emissions will affect the climate well into the 21st century. Our commitment to the CCP Campaign, as stated in Council Resolution R-00-557 sponsored by Councilmember Shea, requires that we complete these milestones: Conduct Emissions Inventory and Forecast, Set Emissions Reduction Target, Develop a Local Action Plan, Implement Local Action Plan, and Monitor and Verify Emissions Reduction.

Click here to view Final Baseline Inventory
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