G. Next Steps: Working together as a community to reduce GHGs
To meet its GHG reduction goals of 28 percent by 2025, 45 percent by 2030, and Net Zero 2050, Washoe County is implementing mitigation actions recommended in its Community Climate Action Plan. The on-road transportation sector, as well as commercial and residential energy sectors, are top priorities, given that, together, they make up 71% Washoe County’s total emissions (On-Road Transportation, 26%; Commercial Energy, 25%; Residential Energy, 20%).
Washoe County also encourages the operators in this plan to adopt Net Zero 2050 commitments and to create their own Climate Action Plans to reach this goal. Several operators have already taken meaningful steps toward Net Zero 2050. NV Energy, for example, has committed to the updated Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) from the Nevada Legislature’s State Bill 358 (2019), ensuring the percentage of electricity sold each year to Nevadans that comes from renewable energy or energy efficiency measures is 50% by 2030. RTC Washoe has had a 100% clean energy bus fleet since 2021. Reno Tahoe International Airport (RTIA) publishes annual Sustainability reports for its own operations. (The airlines themselves are responsible for fuel choices). And Waste Management intends to introduce a new yard waste service at Lockwood landfill in 2025.
To measure emissions reduction progress against the baseline year of 2021, Washoe County plans to conduct GHG inventories at intervals of 3-5 years, as ICLEI recommends. The detailed methodology section of this report, as well as notes and attached data files in the ClearPath Climate Planner tool will help Washoe County complete a future inventory consistent with this one.
Washoe County will align with ICLEI’s framework and methodology for local governments to identify and reduce greenhouse gas emissions:
- Conduct an inventory and forecast of local greenhouse gas emissions;
- Establish a greenhouse gas emissions Science-Based Target;
- Develop a climate action plan for achieving the emissions reduction target;
- Implement the climate action plan; and,
- Monitor and report on progress.
Figure 13 ICLEI Climate Mitigation Milestones
This report represents the completion of ICLEI’s Climate Mitigation Milestone One, and provides a foundation for future work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Washoe County.