19.5: What We Have Learned So Far
- Page ID
- 42042
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- Global problems arising from escalating human demands and stresses on Earth’s natural systems are spurring interest in local solutions to climate change. Local solutions at the level of neighborhoods, cities, towns, and districts are necessary complements to solutions focused on higher levels of organization, such as nation-states and global institutions/networks.
- The UN’s New Urban Agenda is stimulating the rise of local approaches to climate change.
- Roughly 45% of the world’s population is rural. Rural communities need to be part of climate solutions. Rural inclusion in climate action planning can be improved through agrarian policy. It can also be improved by addressing urban-rural linkages that can join the fate of cities and their rural neighbors.
- Localized climate change solutions that can strengthen urban-rural linkages include composting systems, carbon farming, agroforestry, farmers’ markets, and community-supported agriculture.
- Localization is a narrative framework useful for elevating the value of integrated, territorially specific (place-based) interventions seeking climate-friendly development, food-energy-water security, equity, and justice.
- Localization is a key component in bioregional theory and practice. The bioregional transition provides opportunities to value rural places and natural and working lands in relationship to urban and metropolitan areas and needs.
- Localization is visible where place-based investments are made, for instance, in renewable energy microgrids, storm water management and water-harvesting systems, carbon-neutral and zero-waste local industry, urban agriculture, and farmers’ markets.
- Climate action plans are comprehensive road maps that outline specific activities an agency should undertake to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Green infrastructure has become a significant element in localizing climate action planning focused on mitigation and adaptation. Green infrastructure couples natural and human systems in efforts to make life and living in cities, towns, and working lands regeneratively sustainable, resilient, and healthy.
- Green infrastructure is made up of undergirding support structures, systems, and linkages needed to meet needs for food, water, energy, and healthy space for living, working, and recreating. Green infrastructure thus interacts with, and can be used to improve, other forms of infrastructure such as the electric grid, water provisioning, and transportation.
- Green infrastructure can restore and enhance ecosystems, providing carbon sequestration and other benefits. Green infrastructure and biotic approaches have not yet gotten the attention they warrant. But this is slowly changing. Green infrastructure using biotic approaches includes regenerating damaged natural ecosystems, improving natural sinks for carbon through afforestation, reducing deforestation, and restoring soil organic carbon.
- Urban forests, including food forests, are a form of green infrastructure. Forests in urban and rural areas alike have significant potential for biomass production and carbon sequestration. Improved management of forest and tree landscapes of all types is among the speediest solutions for bending the curve. The global annual potential for carbon mitigation from afforestation, reduced deforestation, and restoration of soil organic carbon is about 8 to 12 gigatons per year.
- Turning food waste into energy and soil is a good way to sequester carbon. Implementing food waste reduction programs and energy recovery systems can maximize the utilization of food produced and recover energy from food that is not consumed. Globally, one-third of food produced is not eaten. In the United States, 40% is not eaten. The carbon and other greenhouse gasses emitted in producing this wasted food contribute 3.3 gigatons annually to carbon emissions.
- Civically engaged, well-informed community leaders and residents are necessary to democratically bolster climate action planning. Universities can facilitate collective efforts to democratize climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Place-based (rooted) university-community partnerships can help establish the kind of green, civic, and cyberinfrastructure linkages necessary to support globally minded localization and the bioregional transition to a post-carbon world.