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8.D. - Page 95 Next te s p Setting Emissions Reduction Targets This inventory bLrilds upon the baseline inventory tl�at Redw�od City completed for 2005, providing further insight as to wizat sectors Redwvod City should focus on to reduce emissions for their mLmicipal operations. The greenhouse gas emissions reduction targ+et is a goal to reduce emissions to a certain percentage below base y�ar levels by a chosen planning horizon y�ar. An exarrtple target is the Cit�s comrrrihnent to a 15 percent reduction in coiTUrnmity-wide emissions below 2005 levels by 2020. A targ+et provides an obj ective toward wizich to strive and against wizich to measLne progress. It allow� a local governinent to quantify its commihnent to fighting global wan�ning—demonstrating tl�at the j�isdiction is serious about its commihnent and sy�tematic in its approach In selecting a target, it is ii�ortant to strike a balance betwz�en scientific necessity, ambition, and what is realistically achievable. Redwvod City should give itself enough time to implement chosen emissions reduction measures—noting tl�at the farther out the target y�ar is, the more Redwvod City should pledge to reduce. ICLEI mcorrunends that regardless of the chosen long term eini�sions reduction target (e.g., 15-y�ar, 40-y�ar), Redw�od City should establish linear interim targets for every twv- to thre�y�ar period Near-term targets facilitate additional support and accoLmtability,and linear goals help to ensure continued momenttnn aroLmd local climate protection efforts.To monitor the effectiveness of its programs, Redw�od City should plan to re-inventory its err�issions on a regular basis; many jurisdictions are electing to perform annual inventories. ICLEI recoiTUnends conducting an emissions inventory every three to five y�ars. The Lonq-Term Goal ICLE I recoininends that near-term climate w�rk should be g�rided by the long term goal of reducing its ei�ni�sions by 80 percent to 95 percent from the 2005 baseline level by the y�ar 2050. By referencing a long term goal t1�at is in accordance with c�rent scientific Lmderstanding, Redw�od City can demonstrate that it intends to do its part towards addressing greenhouse gas erni�sions from its internal operations. It is ii�ortant to keep in mind tl�at it will be next to ii�ossible for local governinents to reduce ei�ni�sions by 80 to 95 percent without the assistance of state and federal policy changes tl�at create new incentives and new soLnces of fLmding for emissions reduction projects and programs.How�ver,in the next 15�ars,there is much that local governinents can do to reduce erni�sions independently. It is also ii�ortant that Redwvod City wvrks to reduce its erni�sions sooner, rather than later: the sooner a stable level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is achieved, the less likely it is that I I ' � ii i 1 i i i i