Portland, Oregon, as a Model
Last week I traveled to Portland, Oregon, to attend the wedding of a friend. I really like Portland. I think of Portland as one of those unique American cities. Much as I like New Orleans with its unique style. Portland has a culture that I don’t think you find anywhere else in the US. From its hipster vibe to the excellent culture in museums, gardens, and the arts to the absolutely amazing Powell’s bookstore to the wonderful neighborhoods with their arts-and-craft style homes to the expressive food and beverage scene (beer, wine, coffee, cocktails, and donuts!), Portland is a wonderful place to be.
As a visitor to Portland, I was struck by its active approach to being green. In 2007, Grist magazine listed Portland as the second most green city in the world, right behind Reykjavik, Iceland. That’s because in addition to the miles of biking and walking trails, the 92,000 acres of parkland, the city also put together a comprehensive plan to reduce carbon emissions.
The history of Portland’s carbon reduction planning dates back to the early 1990’s when the city put its first plan together. The overarching program is managed by the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS). The carbon reduction strategy, adopted in 1993, covers six areas of concern, including transportation, energy efficiency, renewable resources and cogeneration, recycling, tree planting, and federal actions. Over the years, Portland has revised the plan and reported its outcomes. The current goal is to reach carbon emissions reductions targets of at least 50% below 1990 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
The latest reports show that the strategy is working, though it is not certain they will meet the goal. I’ve included a few of the charts from the latest report available, 2019.
Portland is tracking and reporting on its carbon emissions progress by sector.
Multnomah County is showing a decrease in carbon emissions across nearly all sectors since 2000.
Population growth is attributed to the leveling effect in the transportation sector.
Portland is clearly a leader in carbon emissions reduction as compared to the rest of the United States.
As a visitor, you can see that Portland is different than other cities. The city has an extensive and well-used public transportation system. Hopping on a bus or street tram is super easy using the smartphone app, and nearly all buses have a bike rack that gets lots of use in this famously rainy city. Among the other actions the city has taken to retain its “green” image, Portland residents approved the formation of the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) in 2018. The fund was set up to provide a consistent, long-term funding source and oversight to support the climate action efforts that support social, economic, and environmental benefits across the city. There is also action on bringing so-called “missing middle housing” to Portland that serves to increase the density of housing in urban environments while preserving land for farms and wilderness in rural areas. And a ban on single-use plastic bags was enacted in 2020.
Even within the community, there are examples of how the residents care. The Portland Community Bike Center, a non-profit program “helps build a vibrant community where people of all backgrounds use bicycles to stay healthy and connected. We believe that all Portlanders—regardless of income or background—should have the opportunity to experience the joy, freedom, and health benefits of bicycling.” A great example of how all levels of the community are part of the overarching sustainability goal for Portland.
Learning more about Portland’s approach, I realize that it is very much in alignment with the UN’s 17 Sustainability Development Goals. Portland may not be perfect, but it is a model city that many others can learn from – especially in the US – on how to set ourselves on a comprehensive plan that shows actionable change.
