Local efforts to cut building emmissions

Planetizen -While some have characterized policies to limit building emissions as unworkably bureaucratic, there are many cities and states already addressing the issue. Policies in California, like rebates offered by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, push for electrification in new buildings. In New York City, legislation is trying to take on existing buildings. "The city council is now considering a remarkable bill, championed by Councilmember Costa Constantinides, that would mandate a 40 percent reduction in emissions from large buildings by 2030, rising to 80 percent by 2050," Roberts reports.

Cities like Minneapolis, Boise, Boulder, and Washington D.C. also have policies in the works to address these issues. Supporters of the GND hope federal legislation can learn from the successes of local level policies.