Response to Jacob’s Post
Jacob’s post concerns Denver’s Climate Action Plan. The Climate Action Plan of Denver Colorado, also known as sustainability 2.0 aims at dealing with the impacts of urban sprawl and also at enhancing urban development. Through this plan, there have been improvements in the transport sector such that there are no longer cases of environmental pollution that bused to be a major concern in the region due to urban pollution effects. Their plan has also been effective in dealing with issues of affordable housing.
A similar plan that exists in my state, which is Oregon State, is the Climate Action Plan in the city of Portland, Oregon. This program is aimed at cutting down on carbon pollution on the environment. It aims at reducing the rate of carbon emission by forty percent by the year 2030. It is built upon policies that aim at involving the community and advancing equity.
According to the City of Portland and Multnomah County Climate Action Plan of 2009, the action plan has managed to reduce carbon emissions significantly over the years (Bureau of Planning and Sustainability 4). According to Ray and Grannis, States use climate change adaptation plans mainly as tools for preparing for the climate change impacts (5).
The main similarity between these plans is that both are aimed at creating sustainable communities by coming up with ways of reducing the adverse impacts of climate change such as global warming. However, the plan described by Jacob differs from the one in Oregon state in that the Denver Climate Change Action Plan (CAP) is broader in scope while the Oregon Plan mainly targets the reduction of carbon emission. The Colorado Plan is a multifaceted and multidimensional plan that covers several areas all the three dimensions of sustainability. Hence, Oregon can borrow from this plan for more sustainable neighborhoods.
Response to Bryan’s Post
Bryan’s post talks about the Green Dallas Policy in Texas. The Green Dallas Plan of Texas addressed the various dimension of sustainability through efficient city planning. The plan has been effective in addressing climate change through its emphasis on the use of renewable energy sources. It also addresses the equity dimension of sustainability by helping raise the household food security and hence taming hunger. This is because if favors smart and sustainable farming practices that result in green and safe yields.
A similar Plan in Oregon is the Oregon Sustainable Park System Plan that aims at creating a green and sustainable environment within recreational facilities and parks in Oregon region. Created by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, this plan is meant to transform the communities around in future.
This plan on sustainability is similar to the one in Oregon in that both are geared towards creating sustainable communities through either sustainable urban planning or creation of a green city. The main difference between this plan and the ones in Denver and Texas is that this program is specifically aimed at reducing carbon emissions while the others are more diverse in scope and mission. Even though various states are implementing climate change strategies to deal with effects of climate change and promote sustainable cities, the contents, the process of developing the plans and implementation progress are peculiar to the individual states (Ray & Grannis 5).
Works Cited
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. Climate Action Plan 2009: Year two progress report. Sustainability. Portland: Office of Sustainability, 2012. Web. 15 July 2016. <https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/393345>.
Ray, Aaron D. and Jessica Grannis. "From planning to action: Implementation of State climate change adaptation plans." Michigan Journal of Sustainability 3 (2015): 5-28. Web. 15 July 2016. <http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/mjs/12333712.0003.001/--from-planning-to-action-implementation-of-state-climate?rgn=main;view=fulltext>.
