DATE: March 18, 2025
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Director of Public Works
SUBJECT
Title
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory: Review and Discuss 2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (Report from Director of Public Works Ameri)
End
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the City Council reviews and comments on this report.
End
SUMMARY
The City Council-adopted General Plan includes greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets for the Hayward community. This report provides the results of the calendar year 2023 GHG inventory and compares them to previous inventories. Table 1 summarizes the total emissions for six sectors - electricity, natural gas, transportation (including public transit), off-road vehicles, solid waste, and water and wastewater. Emissions are measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTC02e).1 The table indicates that, as of 2023, emissions have been reduced by 35% since 2005.
As the largest contributor to community-wide GHG emissions, trends in on-road transportation significantly impact the inventory. Following the decline in transportation emissions due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, emissions increased in 2021 as restrictions eased and pre-pandemic activities resumed. However, transportation emissions have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. When comparing 2021 to 2023, total emissions increased by only 1.3%. The relatively consistent emissions in 2021 through 2023 may be attributed to a shift toward increased hybrid and remote work following the pandemic.
Table 1: GHG Emissions by Sector (MTC02e)
2005
2010
2015
2020
2021
2022
2023
% Change from 2005
Electricity
185,536
165,172
141,814
23,038
35,844
29,313
26,011
-86.0 %
Natural Gas
189,995
191,526
176,803
166,334
168,917
170,495
172,822
-9.0 %
Transportation
520,768
458,988
441,751
304,371
357,867
367,652
353,271
-32.2
Airport*
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,779
-
Off-Road Vehicles
14,889
17,004
27,267
27,976
2...
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