Climate Change Impacts on Santa Fe Predicted
A preliminary assessment that looks at how projected climate change impacts may influence some of the key natural and human systems in the Santa Fe watershed has been released. The assessment also explores possible adaptive actions and details ongoing activities that will have a positive impact on the watershed and mitigate effects of climate change. Claudia Borchert, city hydrologist, and Dangar Llewellyn, from the Bureau of Reclamation, helped write the draft report, which says that climate change is predicted to have profound impacts on the watershed. “The degree to which we gracefully weather and adapt to the impacts will largely be determined by the preparations we engage in today,” the report says. According to studies, higher temperatures, earlier spring melts, reduced stream flow from diminished snowpack, increased evaporation, drier mid-to-late summers and more potentially catastrophic fires with subsequent flooding are already happening and are expected to increase. “These are things that will be the new normal,” Borchert says. Recommendations from a climate-change workshop that city, county and federal officials held in March include establishing technical advisory committees, including consideration of potential climate change impacts of all future government decisions, design and material usage considerations for roads and bridges to handle higher intensity runoff, water harvesting and increasing water system storage, installation of solar panels over parking lots to reflect heat and produce energy, establishment of a municipal energy system, improving ecosystem diversity, and a monitoring system for climate change. To read the report, visit www.santafenm.gov/index.aspx?NID+2577
SF to Pilot New Sustainability Ratings System
In November, Santa Fe became one of the first of 29 US cities to test the new STAR Community Rating System, the first national system for assessing the sustainability of communities. The pilot program offers participants the chance to evaluate indicators of sustainability and set specific goals for improvement. This is the latest initiative pursued by the city to implement the Sustainable Santa Fe Plan, which includes goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency and local food systems, and improving the ability of the ecosystem to adapt to environmental change. The plan was adopted by the City Council in 2008. Bianca Sopoci-Belknap, chair of the Sustainable Santa Fe Commission, which drafted the 2008 plan, believes the program will allow the commission to expand its efforts in the community: “One of the first goals of the SSF Plan is to determine the current level of greenhouse gas emissions in Santa Fe. With the STAR Index, we will finally have a way to set those baselines and accurately measure our progress.” The new rating system is unique in its emphasis on comprehensive, community-wide assessment. Based on the “triple bottom line” principle that advocates “people, planet, and profit” as the three pillars of success, the system’s 45 objectives aim to capture the specific economic, environmental and social factors of sustainability. Some of the factors measured: energy efficiency in buildings, public transportation, job quality, wages and recycling. Students from Santa Fe Community College will assist the commission with data collection and input for the yearlong pilot. Participating in the program will allow the team access to innovative reporting tools, training opportunities and expert support to complete the assessment and set appropriate targets. They will also be able to collaborate with other progressive sustainability programs, including those in Portland, Ore. and Austin, Texas. Ratings assigned by STAR Communities can be used to attract tourists and green businesses. Says Sopoci-Belknap, “With this pilot, we have a real opportunity to ensure a healthy, sustainable future for Santa Fe. As we see more and more unprecedented weather events like the super-storm devastating the East Coast, it is critical that we respond by reducing impacts and preparing our community for the effects of climate change.” For more information, contact Katherine Mortimer, Sustainable Santa Fe Programs Manager at 505.955.2262, kemortimer@santafenm.gov. Santa Fe’s sustainability plan can be found at www.santafenm.gov/index.aspx?NID=685. The STAR sustainable community program can be found at www.starcommunities.org
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December 2012 • GreenFireTimes
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