Boulder County has released a playbook in partnership with Carbon Direct for local government leaders to drive climate action and innovation in their communities.
The report, “Best Practices Playbook for Local Carbon Removal and Resilience Strategies,” provides guidance for governments, decision-makers and facilitators to incorporate carbon dioxide removal into local climate action plans, according to a release.
Carbon dioxide removal is the process of pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and locking it away in geological, biological and synthetic formations for decades, centuries or even millenia.
Even in the most optimistic greenhouse gas emission reduction scenarios, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that carbon removal will need to scale to multiple gigatons per year to meet climate targets. Assuming net zero emission globally by mid-century, ongoing removal of legacy emissions will still be required through the end of the century.
“The science is clear. To meet climate targets, carbon dioxide removal must be part of the equation,” said Sarah Federman, director of Landscape Decarbonization at Carbon Direct. “Municipal leaders are uniquely positioned to accelerate carbon dioxide removal projects. They know the local community, they understand the growing impacts of that change on the community, and they have the mechanisms in place to effectively evaluate community needs and get community buy-in.”
The report outlines four phases for local governments to facilitate programs within their communities that foster local innovation and prioritize resilience. First, the book advises assessing community needs, priorities and resources.
Next, the community should evaluate and design a carbon removal program, considering budget, feasibility, scalability and capabilities. Then the community can select and implement carbon removal projects before monitoring, reporting and verifying outcomes.
"To avoid catastrophic consequences and meet climate goals, carbon removal is crucial not only for corporations but also for local governments,” said Susie Strife, director of Boulder County’s Office of Sustainability, Climate Action, & Resilience. “This playbook shares our own experiences with our Climate Innovation Fund, 4 Corners Carbon Coalition members' insights, and Carbon Direct's scientific expertise to help local leaders take meaningful action and overcome barriers."
