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MiPlan: City of Miami Climate Action Plan
Executive Summary
 The
City of Miami sits on the frontline of man-made
climate change. Over the next century,
escalating greenhouse gas emissions threaten to
dramatically increase the earth’s temperatures
and raise sea levels, making Greater Miami one
of the most vulnerable urban areas in the world.
If climate change proceeds unmitigated, living
in Miami will become extremely difficult, if not
impossible.
The City of Miami
is committed to taking action to reduce and halt
global climate change. Miami’s greenhouse gas
emissions currently exceed 4.8 million metric
tons per year and will rise to 5.7 million
metric tons by 2020 without action. MiPlan, the
City of Miami’s Climate Action Plan, outlines
how the City will reduce greenhouse gas
emissions to 25% below 2006 levels citywide by
2020 and to 25% below 2007 governmental levels
by 2015. MiPlan represents a strong first step
towards a sustainable future for Miami. The
keystones of MiPlan focus on five main areas of
sustainability:
Buildings
- Buildings are the
source of more than half of Miami’s greenhouse
gas emissions. Buildings consume energy to
provide basic functions such as cooling,
lighting, heating water, and running appliances and
computers. Most buildings also waste energy,
using 30% of their energy inefficiently or
unnecessarily, according to the US EPA. Miami
buildings are unique in that they consume almost
all of their energy from electricity and use
more of that energy for cooling than almost
anywhere else in the US.
- Miami will reduce
annual greenhouse gas emissions by 975,000
metric tons by 2020 through improvements in
energy efficiency in both new and existing
buildings. This program will emphasize efforts
to improve energy efficiency in existing
buildings and their cooling and lighting
systems, which together can comprise more than
half of electricity used in a typical South
Florida building.
Energy sources
- Electricity
supplies almost all of Miami’s energy for
buildings. More efficient generation and cleaner
fuel sources of electricity can greatly reduce
the City’s greenhouse gas emissions. Although
Miami’s greenhouse gas emissions from
electricity have been decreasing in recent years
through the efforts of the City’s utility (FPL),
the City seeks to have that trend continue and
accelerate.
- Miami will reduce annual
greenhouse gas emissions by 429,000 metric tons
by increasing the use of renewable energy and
the use of more efficient, local sources of
power.
Transportation
- The
transportation sector, predominantly the use of
cars and trucks, produces 40% of the City’s
greenhouse gas emissions. Shifting the means of
transportation from single-occupant large cars
and SUVs to more efficient cars or alternative
methods of transportation can greatly decrease
the City’s greenhouse gas emissions. Miami-Dade
County roads now see over 21 billion miles of
driving per year, up 33% from 10 years ago.
Increasing commute times and driver frustration
heighten the need to improve transportation in
the City. By increasing the number of
transportation choices to residents and removing
barriers to alternative transportation, MiPlan
seeks to reduce automobile dependency.
- Miami
will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by
565,000 metric tons by 2020 by reducing vehicle
miles traveled, increasing fuel efficiency,
increasing the use of alternative
transportation, and increasing the use of
alternatively-fueled vehicles.
Land Use
- Land use
contributes to energy consumption in both the
building and transportation sectors. Denser,
more walkable cities have lower automobile usage
and are more energy efficient. Compact,
pedestrian-friendly urban planning can
contribute not only to decreased energy
consumption but also provide sustainable
communities for Miami’s future. The City is
projected to absorb another 50,000 residents by
2020 and the manner in which they are absorbed
will impact the City’s greenhouse gas emissions.
- Miami will reduce annual greenhouse gas
emissions by 148,000 metric tons by implementing
more efficient land use planning and zoning.
Adaptation
- Some amount of
temperature increase and sea level rise is
inevitable, even if greenhouse gas
concentrations are stabilized at current levels.
- Miami will begin to plan for the impacts of
climate change and incorporate climate change
scenarios into long-range planning.
Climate change
presents one of the greatest challenges of
the 21st century, but there is hope for the
global environment. As an international city,
Miami has the opportunity to lead in developing
innovative, sustainable solutions and pushing
the frontiers of progress by initiating a
program to implement energy efficiency
improvements citywide. In doing so, Miami will
provide a model that will reap the benefits of
innovation through the growth of local green
industries, by reducing dependence on foreign
energy sources, and by creating a sustainable
community that attracts families and businesses.
Executive Summary in Spanish
Full MiPlan in English
Full MiPlan in Spanish |