Climate Action Plan

Benefits of Taking Action Now

Health of the Community

Although most measures are directed towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, all have side benefits that improve the health and quality of life in Salt Lake City. These benefits include reducing traffic congestion and minimizing dangerous air pollution. Furthermore, our measures promote alternative forms of transportation, which make the city more livable and pedestrian friendly. All of these improvements also increase the attractiveness of our city to tourists and visitors, helping to maintain the strength of our booming tourist industry.

Economic and Technological Advantages

Energy efficiency measures, alternative forms of transportation, and reduced waste will also save a substantial amount of money. Some measures may require initial investment costs, but will eventually lead to significant financial savings. Investment in energy efficiency can quickly pay for itself and provides a strong return on investment. The saved money in turn can be reinvested in the community, stimulating economic development and job creation.

For example, a business that cuts its annual energy bill of $5,000 by 20% frees up $1,000 that can be reinvested towards expanding the business or hiring additional employees. The same principle applies to local government, which can spend the money saved on energy on other community needs.

Energy efficiency generates more local economic activity than purchases of foreign petroleum or natural gas. The reason for this is that, for the most part, the production of gasoline and the generation of electricity occur outside the local community, often even outside the state or the country, whereas most expenditures related to energy efficiency, such as hiring contractors or purchasing insulation and lighting, occur within the local economy. In effect, energy efficiency and alternative transportation measures help to keep more money in the local community, by reducing dependence on outside sources of energy.

Healthy Environment for Future Generations

Our children deserve to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and inherit a world that free from toxic pollutants. To pass on a world that is anything less is morally unacceptable. It has become obvious that we, as human beings, have altered our world and the delicate climate we live in through our unrestrained consumption of natural resources. Now is the time that we must act in the best interest of us all. By drastically reducing the emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other harmful greenhouse gases in our community, we are not only doing ourselves a great service; we are ensuring that future generations will have the same quality of life as we have had the privilege to have.

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