Greenhouse gas reduction goal-setting continues for Kansas City, MO

Meetings Dec. 14 and 21 will help prioritize City and individual actions

The City of Kansas City, Mo., Climate Protection Plan steering committee's four work groups soon will meet for the first time to begin their development of recommendations for greenhouse gas reduction measures.

A joint meeting of the four work groups will be held Dec. 14 from 4-6 p.m. at Bartle Hall in Room 2214. The steering committee will meet Dec. 21 from 3-5 p.m. at City Hall in the 10th floor committee room. Both meetings are open to the public.

The following are the four work groups: energy; transportation; carbon offsets and waste management; and policy and outreach. Each work group consists of 12-15 members who represent a broad range of stakeholders. At the Dec. 14 meeting, the groups will receive a briefing on the City's climate protection planning process and will prioritize greenhouse gas reduction strategies/actions to be considered at future work group meetings in January, February and March.

At the Dec. 21 meeting, the 11-member Climate Protection Plan steering committee will be briefed on the development of a baseline inventory of the City's greenhouse gas emissions and will begin a discussion on setting greenhouse gas reduction goals.

After receiving recommendations from the work groups next year, the steering committee will decide which climate protection actions to submit to the mayor and City Council. The actions will include measures to be implemented by the City and greenhouse gas reduction measures for implementation by organizations and individuals throughout the community. The intent is to complete a phase I Climate Protection Plan in April 2007 for consideration by Mayor Kay Barnes and the City Council.

For more information about the City's Climate Protection Plan, call Dennis Murphey, chief environmental officer, (816) 513-3459.