CARBON NEUTRALITY

As 2022 commences, many buzzwords from 2021 continue to be ushered in. Carbon neutrality is one of them. This term is used to describe when a company, organization, or state causes carbon emissions and then balances these emissions out by funding an equivalent amount of carbon savings somewhere else on Earth. In my hometown of Boise, Idaho, I have been working with a group of students to support Boise City to become carbon neutral. Below is compiled information about the roadmap, and carbon neutrality actually being applied to a city.

Boise's Climate Action Roadmap is our community’s plan for climate action. It will inform our community's journey to being carbon neutral by 2050. The term “carbon neutral” refers to the removal, to the extent possible, of all human-caused greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the atmosphere through reduction and removal measures. This roadmap will help us enhance both our resilience and our ability to adapt to the changes our community will experience from climate change.

Goals

• Carbon neutral city government by 2035

• Carbon neutral community by 2050

• Enhance community resilience

Guiding Principles

• Improve health and wellness

• Advance equity

• Grow a climate economy

Research and Data

In 2000, the city began collecting data to develop a baseline of information to understand our current conditions to determine where we can take action in mitigating climate change.

Boiseans may be noticing differences in the Treasure Valley’s climate, much like current trends across the country and the world. These differences can impact the health, quality of life, and livelihoods of us all.

The city has identified specific climate-related impacts and hazards projected for our region:

• Worsening air quality days

• Increasing drought frequency

• Hotter summer days, Earlier snow melt