Project Drawdown is the most comprehensive list of solutions ever proposed to reverse climate change. “Drawdown is the future point in time when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline. This is the point when we begin the process of stopping further climate change and averting potentially catastrophic warming. It is a critical turning point for life on Earth.”
While the book and organization has been incredibly successful in terms of media exposure, true success requires local traction. Drawdown evaluates a list of solutions for the entire world that may not be contextually relevant to what makes sense here locally for the Kansas City metro area. Drawdown GA was the first state to analyze every solution and downselect those solutions relevant to Georgia’s specific context based on a criteria of technology and market readiness, local experience & data availability, technically achievable CO2 reduction potential, cost competitiveness, and social equity attributes. These social equity attributes are called ‘Beyond Carbon’ and measure each solution’s impact on economy, equity, public health, & environment measures.
The Alliance Center, with the engagement of the governor’s office and many state agencies, convened the Colorado Emergence Series (the Series) to craft a regenerative and equitable future for the state. The Series engaged several hundred Coloradans: change agents from diverse sectors, geographic regions, cultures, communities and generations. Participants included representatives from local food banks, farmers, community groups, climate experts, youth leaders, financiers, industry and workforce development groups, large corporations, small businesses and cultural institutions.creation of the Regenerative Recovery Coalition. Now involving more than 150 organizations representing almost $2.5 billion in state revenue and over 19,000 jobs, the Coalition will work with the state and interested Coloradans to refine and implement the ideas and strategies generated by the Series to deliver a regenerative recovery for Colorado.
Highlights of the KC Climate Vulnerability Assessment:
- Average annual precipitation will increase from 38.8″ to 44.6″ per year.
- The number of days per year in which the temperature exceeds 105°F will increase from 0.7 to 21.9.
- Risk matrix assessing the probability and consequence of each hazard results show high risk in categories of flooding, extreme heat, and drought.
- Sectors, assets, and services to have negative impact designated as ‘High’ include Residential, Water Supply, Sanitation, Public Health, Land Use Planning, Food & Agriculture, Law & Order, Transport, & Environment
Kansas City has committed to net zero carbon by 2050. To accomplish this, city leadership has created a 2021 Regional Action Plan divided into nine sections, each with an overview, set of goals, strategies and specific actions.
- Collaboration & Leadership
- Energy Generation
- Transportation
- Urban Greening
- Finance & Innovation
- Food Systems
- Healthy & Resilient Homes & Building
- Community Resilience
- Industry & Resource Management
Resources 101:
- 2021 Regional Climate Action Plan (Climate Action KC/MARC)
- KC Climate Vulnerability Assessment (MARC)
- Drawdown GA Solution Down Select (Georgia Tech/ Ray Anderson Foundation)
- Climate Sensemaking Reading List