ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability USA

Incorporating Equity into Greenhouse Gas Inventories and Mitigation Strategies

ICLEI USA is the U.S. office of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, the world’s first and largest global network of over 2,500 local governments across 100+ countries dedicated to addressing sustainability challenges.

In 2023, we published The Ambition Gap: From Intent to Implementation in Local Climate Action, a report identifying the barriers preventing local governments from achieving the rapid emissions reductions needed to meet 2030 climate goals. The report also offers actionable recommendations for how organizations like ICLEI USA can support effective local climate action.

As climate impacts intensify, prioritizing vulnerable and historically underserved populations in climate strategies is critical. ICLEI USA is committed to embedding equity into greenhouse gas inventories and mitigation strategies to ensure inclusive and effective climate solutions and implementation. The Bekenstein intern at ICLEI USA will lead the development of these resources:

• Equitable Zero Emissions Development Policy Matrix & Implementation Activity:
  • The matrices will include examples of strategies and policies that advance the goal for zero emissions through an equitable and people-centered lens. This matrix is intended to help local governments identify best practice strategies and policies to include in the implementation of their plans (including climate action plans, sustainability plans, climate and vulnerability assessments, etc). Topics include:
    • Equitable Electric Vehicle Adoption
    • Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled
    • Safe, Affordable, Accessible, Sustainable Transport Systems
    • Equitable Building Electrification & Efficiency
    • Equitable Community Solar Programming
    • Relieving Energy Burden 
    • Livelihood Diversification & Workforce Development
  • The implementation activity will provide local governments with a guide for considerations and recommendations on how to implement each of the above topics. The intern and supervisors can determine the format during the course of the project.
  • Interviews and discussions with current members are welcomed to gain insights concerning best practices, challenges, and knowledge gaps.
• Greenhouse Gas Inventory Template Update + Equity Assessment:
  • Inventorying sources of GHG emissions and related activities is the first step toward taking action on climate change. A GHG inventory provides evidence to set and act on community climate goals and, importantly, to measure the progress of mitigation actions over time.
  • To ensure that GHG inventories are transparent, consistent, and defensible, ICLEI USA developed the GHG accounting protocols, which are the standard protocols used by local and regional government agencies across the globe.
  • To support the application of the protocols, ICLEI USA developed and maintains an online suite of emissions management tools packaged together within the ClearPath Climate Planning Tool. Inventories can be conducted according to the Local Government Operations Protocol, the U.S. Community Protocol, the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Emissions (GPC) Basic Protocol, or the GPC Basic Plus Protocol.
  • Updates are required to the GHG Inventory templates to ensure that the process of measuring, reporting, and managing emissions considers social, economic, and environmental justice. This means addressing how different communities contribute to and are impacted by GHG emissions, particularly vulnerable populations, and ensuring that solutions promote fairness and inclusion. The updates may include but are not limited to:
    • Equity considerations and language to be integrated into GHG inventory reports
    • Include marginalized communities in the data collection process.
    • Develop internal processes to offer an equity assessment to determine what inequities a community faces, following the indicators noted in the Sustainable Communities Suite’s Equity: First Steps Guide.
    • Break down emissions inventories by factors such as income level, race, or geographical location. For example, lower-income communities or communities of color may disproportionately live near industrial facilities or highways, contributing to higher exposure to pollution, which should be reflected in the inventory.
    • Include questions to address the health and environmental impacts on vulnerable populations, such as people with preexisting health conditions, children, or the elderly. Communities that are already suffering from higher levels of pollution or climate-related disasters should be prioritized in mitigation and adaptation planning.
    • Set GHG reduction goals that are tailored to specific communities, ensuring that more vulnerable populations aren’t left behind in efforts to reduce emissions. These targets could include addressing energy poverty, improving public transportation, and ensuring affordable access to renewable energy. 
    • Mapping climate justice using tools like climate vulnerability or GIS maps to assess where the highest emissions intersect with areas most vulnerable to climate impacts (flooding, heatwaves, air pollution, etc.).

Qualifications

Required

Technical

• Experience and/or education in climate mitigation strategies, sustainability, and climate action planning.
• Experience and/or education with equity in climate and sustainability initiatives.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative skills.
• Proficiency with Excel.

Soft Skills

• Candidates must be comfortable working collaboratively in a virtual environment.
• Self-starter with excellent time management.
• Applicants must possess excellent analytical, technical, organizational, interpersonal, work planning, time management, communications, and writing skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred

Technical

• Experience with greenhouse gas inventories.
• Experience with GIS.
• Familiar with the Council of Environmental Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool.
• Experience applying greenhouse gas protocols in a local government context (such as GPC, ICLEI’s US Community Protocol, and Local Government Operations Protocol.

Soft Skills

• Collaborative – works well with others on a team.
• Knows when to ask for help.
• Creative problem solver.

Timeline

Week 1:

Onboarding

Weeks 1-2:

Reviewing Existing Zero Emission and Equity Pathway resources, including existing GHG inventory templates and progress on the strategies matrix.

Weeks 2-6:

Perform background research on topics including equitable zero-emission policies, programs, resources, and equity mapping in relation to GHG emissions across communities.

Weeks 4-8:

Interview ICLEI USA members

Weeks 5-9: 

• Review and build out the Equitable Zero Emissions Development Policy Matrix with additional strategy examples from communities across the US.
• Develop implementation activities to provide local governments with a guide for considerations and recommendations on how to implement zero-emission policies and programs equitably.
• Update existing GHG Inventory templates as needed to ensure that the process of measuring, reporting, and managing emissions considers social, economic, and environmental justice.

Weeks 9-10:

Review and feedback provided to the student by ICLEI USA staff

Week 11:

Finalize deliverables

Week 12:

Present findings and resources to the ICLEI USA team

Background

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) is a global network working with more than 2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for zero-emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development.

As the USA Office of a global ICLEI network, ICLEI USA develops and delivers leading-edge tools and resources. Our standards, tools, and programs credibly, transparently, and robustly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve lives and livelihoods, and protect natural resources in the U.S. communities we serve. ICLEI USA and our network partners are working to keep 1.5 ℃ alive through a data-driven approach focusing on just and equitable communities.