Taking Action On Climate Change

Information

Mayor Wheeler is determined to keep Portland on the front lines of the battle to avert the climate crisis, and he is proud to be the Mayor of a city where the next generation is rallying everyone to be innovative and to take bold action on climate justice. While the City of Portland remains a leader on climate action nationally and globally, we know that we need to double-down and do even more if we are going to meet emission reduction targets of 50% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050.

Actions already taken by Mayor Wheeler and the City of Portland to address the climate crisis include:

  • Implement the City of Portland’s new Clean Air Construction Standard, which aims to reduce diesel emissions.
  • Passing an ordinance limiting the use of single-use plastic service ware.
  • Appointing the advisory committee for the Portland Clean Energy Fund that will deliver social equity benefits while pursuing carbon emission reductions.
  • Expanding the number of building subject to the city’s deconstruction ordinance that prioritizes material salvage and reuse of landfill.
  • Creating stronger bike parking requirements in buildings to make sure all Portlanders have safe, secure, and accessible bike parking. This will help get people out of their cars and on to their bikes.
  • Leveraging planning and zoning code to tackle climate change.  Land use planning is climate action in Portland.
  • Limiting the expansion of new fossil fuel infrastructure.

Mayor Wheeler cares deeply about the kind of future we want our children and youth to experience. It’s that shared value the drives his desire to succeed as a caretaker of the environment, and though the City has already taken significant steps to address climate change, Mayor Wheeler plans to do even more. The next action steps the City is taking under his leadership are policy commitments focused on internal City operations:

  • Policy Commitment #1:  Mayor Wheeler has directed bureaus to reduce carbon emissions, and to prepare for the impacts of climate change in their upcoming budgets proposals. Those proposals should:
  • Put Portland in the trajectory to achieve our climate goals, particularly focusing on emissions from transportations and the built environment.
  • Build the City’s resilience to projected climate change impacts like extreme precipitation and heat waves.
  • Policy Commitment #2:  Implement a ‘climate test’ to ensure major City decisions are integrating climate action by adopting an internal price on carbon. Fully electrify the City’s fleet of sedans. Establish a new policy to require the offset of carbon emissions from City-related air travel, and to design and implement a local carbon offset fund to see local carbon reduction benefits. Improve the energy efficiency of City-owned and -managed buildings by exploring funding in next year’s budget to
  • Policy Commitment #3: Reduce barriers to Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund projects and pave the way toward a net-zero carbon future.

Under Mayor Wheeler’s leadership, the City will take further action around the Climate Emergency Declaration that will help center the City’s intent to work closely with communities and youth – those most impacted by climate change – to develop the next set of actions and solutions the City takes.