Synapse: This Week's News for LA’s Best Buildings

'True Climate Leadership' by US Would Be 60% Emissions Reduction by 2030, Report Finds

or the Biden Administration to meet its long-term target of net-zero emissions by 2050, the United States must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 60% below 2005 levels by 2030, according to a new report released Thursday.

In its analysis, Climate Action Tracker (CAT) found that in order for the U.S. to do its fair share to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C by the end of the century — the goal of the Paris agreement — the country must slash at least 57% to 63% of its emissions by the end of the decade and provide financial support to developing nations striving to transition away from climate-destroying fossil fuels.

25 Badass Women Shaping Climate Action in 2021

Given the devastating economic toll the COVID-19 pandemic has had on women and girls, the imperative to mark International Women’s Day carries more weight than usual this year. Here is GreenBiz’s list of 25 badass women fighting climate change - they celebrate a rise in climate leadership distinguished by four important characteristics: it is focused on "making change rather than being in charge"; it is committed to responding in ways "that heal systemic injustices rather than deepening them"; there is "an appreciation for heart-centered, not just head-centered, leadership"; and there is "a recognition that building community is a requisite foundation for building a better world."

Building for a "Climate Damn Emergency"

California is no stranger to the devastating effects of the climate crisis. In the past few years, the Golden State has experienced more intense wildfires, blackouts, extreme heat, and droughts, all resulting either directly or indirectly from a rapidly deteriorating climate. To move toward a carbon-free economy and achieve its 2045 carbon neutrality goal—California must accelerate moving away from fossil fuel use inside buildings, primarily for heating and hot water. The first step to transitioning to healthier, more affordable, clean energy buildings is embracing all-electric new construction, that is new buildings powered by clean electricity instead of fossil gas for heat and hot water.

Listen: Jigar Shah's Plan to Manage DOE's $40B Loan Program, on GreenTech Media’s Energy Gang Podcast

Jigar Shah has decades of experience bringing clean energy technologies to commercial scale. As CEO and co-founder of SunEdison, he helped pioneer the solar power-purchase agreement (PPA) model now central to the industry. As president and co-founder of Generate Capital, he’s applied similar expertise to commercializing new generations of clean energy and decarbonization technologies. 

Webinar: Affordable Housing Resilience Training: Ready to Respond LA

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of disaster preparedness and the critical role that housing and community development organizations play in emergency response. This training—tailored specifically for affordable housing providers is Los Angeles—will highlight two practical tools to help organizations prepare their staff and residents for a changing climate and the next big disaster:
(1) City of LA Emergency Management Department’s Ready Your LA Neighborhood (RYLAN) program, a newly adapted program that helps residents in multifamily properties support one another through an emergency.
(2) Enterprise’s Ready to Respond Disaster Staffing Toolkit, which helps organizations develop staffing plans to continue operations during and after a disaster.

When: March 25, 1 p.m. PT

Source: Greenbiz