| |
Nationally, transportation contributes 28 percent of greenhouse gasses (GHG). The share of transportation is 38 percent in Oregon due to the absence other major pollutants, such as, heavy industries and coal burning power generators. Emission from transportation sources, however, is growing faster than from other sources. The State of Oregon has enacted legislation to help address this issue.
First, in 2009, the Oregon Legislation passed House Bill 2186 which requires the formation of a GHG Reduction Task Force to:
-
Study and evaluate the development of alternative land use and transportation scenarios that accommodate planned growth while achieving a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
-
Evaluate fiscal, staffing and other resources needed by state agencies, local governments and MPO’s to implement land use and transportation scenarios.
-
Evaluate impediments to implementing land use and transportation scenarios that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2010, the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 1059, a statewide, comprehensive bill aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation. SB 1059 names the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development as the lead agencies in implementing its requirements. ODOT and DLCD are to:
-
Coordinate and consult with stakeholders, local governments, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and other state agencies to develop a state-level strategy to reduce greenhouse gases from transportation.
- Develop a toolkit to assist local governments and MPOs in reducing greenhouse gases from transportation.
- Develop guidelines for scenario planning, and provide information to LCDC to set transportation-related greenhouse gas reduction targets for areas served by metropolitan planning organizations.
- Conduct outreach and education to the public.
- Work with local governments within areas served by an MPO to consider what actions they might take, transportation-wise, to reduce greenhouse gases in the short-term.
More information on HB 2186 and SB 1059, is available at the following links:
Oregon Sustainable Transportation Initiative (OSTI) homepage
Oregon Department of Transporation - SB 1059 Information
Oregon Department of Transportation - HB 2186 and Task Force Information
Learn more about the Transportation + GHG Connection:
State and Federal links:
State of Oregon - Climate Change in Oregon
Oregon Department of Transportation climate change website
U.S. Department of Transportation - Transportation & Climate Change Clearinghouse
U.S. EPA - Climate Change webpage
U.S. EPA - Average Emissions for a Passsenger Vehicle
U.S. EPA - Transportation Sector Emissisions
NOAA - Greenhouse Gases FAQ's
Proceedings of the HB2186 MPO Greenhouse Gas Emissions Task Force:
Meeting 1
Meeting 2
Meeting 3
Meeting 4
Final Report
|
