Search
Close this search box.

The Low Emissions Pathway

Get on the pathway to climate neutrality.

Curb climate change, create new economic opportunities, and improve the health of human and natural systems.

Low Emissions' Key Role

As the lead author of the greenhouse gas accounting protocols, ICLEI serves as the national authority on emissions management for both government operations and community-wide. We help our members and partners establish baseline, set goals, prioritize, implement and monitor actions toward net-zero emissions by mid-century.

Our Approach to Low Emissions

Assess

Set your Baselines

We provide local governments with the tools to take an evidence based approach to lowering emissions. Using ICLEI’s Greenhouse Gas Protocols, the ClearPath tool, and ICLEI expert support, local governments establish an emissions baseline and model emissions forecasts in order to set science-based goals. The GHG Contribution Analysis tool offers year-over-year inventory insights.

Act

Develop your Low Emissions Infrastructure

We assist communities to develop both targeted emissions-reduction plans and integrated plans, which address climate mitigation alongside adaptation and equity in a comprehensive process. Our ClearPath tool allows communities to model and implement big-impact actions, including for deep energy efficiency, 100% renewable energy roadmaps, and electrification of buildings and vehicles. Annual cohorts walk communities through zero-net energy buildings, integrated climate action planning, government operations tune-ups and more.

Accelerate

Collaborate and Lead the Movement

ICLEI’s Climate Neutrality Framework moves communities beyond accounting and planning toward full-cycle climate leadership. Opportunities include consumption-based and forest-carbon emissions accounting, supply chain accounting, fossil fuel divest-reinvest campaigns, and accounting for carbon offsets as part of a greater climate strategy. Connection to global initiatives, such as the UNFCCC Race to Zero, Global Covenant of Mayors, and 100% Renewable Energy Cities & Regions Network will help you accelerate faster. We support our members to report to CDP-ICLEI Unified Reporting System.

ICLEI USA Low Emissions Projects

Fee-for-service

John Hopkins University

ICLEI USA provided technical assistance to students using the ClearPath Climate Planner tool to create community-wide or local government operations inventories. Through virtual presentations and

Read More »
Fee-for-service

George Mason University

ICLEI USA provided technical assistance to students using the ClearPath Climate Planner tool to create community-wide or local government operations inventories. Through virtual presentations and

Read More »

More Projects

ICLEI USA Low Emissions Cohorts

Cohorts are guided group technical assistance programs that guide communities to results. Learn More

closed

Circularity Cohort

A circular community is one that promotes the transition from a linear to a circular economy in an integrated way across the public and private

Read More »

ICLEI USA Low Emissions Resources

More Resources

Low Emissions Testimonials

Mountain Towns Cohort

“We had just started meeting as a cohort of governments to discuss resilience initiatives when we found out about the opportunity to have support from ICLEI through the MT2030 group.  The guidance and resources that ICLEI provided streamlined our process of creating GHG inventories for each city and the county.  At times, it was not easy to “herd cats” so to speak between governments and interns, but Tom showed infinite patience with our questions and extended timeframe due to COVID and an influx of new residents to our remote location in the Wood River Valley of Idaho.  Comparing each city showed surprising differences in the sources of emissions.  We are so excited by this foundation and the opportunity to use the information to develop a Climate Action Plan!  Already, stakeholders are incorporating emissions into decision-making such as evaluating options for recycling collection.  Clean energy goals have been adopted by several jurisdictions.  And, funding has been allocated to create a Regional Sustainability Manager!” 

Sharon Grant
Owner of Eco Edge Consulting and “Chief Cat Herder” for this process

"As a coastal community, Hoboken has directly felt the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels and more frequent storms. At the same time, we’ve invested hundreds of millions of dollars adapting to the realities of climate change, Big Oil companies have engaged in a decades-long campaign of misinformation that has contributed to global warming which has disproportionately impacted our residents. It’s time these companies pay their fair share and be held accountable for their actions."

Ravi Bhalla
Mayor of Hoboken, NJ

"Why must local governments act on climate? Because we can! We can divest from fossil fuels and we can invest in zero-emissions practices. When we do, we demonstrate that it’s achievable, economically viable, and we all benefit. Is city action enough? No—but it is essential."

Nancy Skinner
Senator, California State Senate

"Reaching carbon neutrality by 2030 will require strong leadership and dedication, and while it will be hard, Flagstaff can meet this challenge and turn current risks into future opportunities that are accessible to all residents equally. We are indebted to the community members that brought this initiative forward, specifically Flagstaff’s youth, and look forward to working with them to achieve this critical goal."

Coral Evans
Mayor of Flagstaff, AZ

"ICLEI has helped tremendously with San Antonio’s greenhouse gas inventories. The team consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that our staff understands the process at each step of the way, offering to write summaries, notate and keep track of changes, and attend meetings and briefings as needed. From transferring our 2016 data from CIRIS to ClearPath, to entering the raw data for 2019, and offering recommendations and best practices, the assistance that was provided to our city and community is truly invaluable."

Minerva Defee
Climate Program Manager, Office of Sustainability, San Antonio, TX

Indiana University Resilience Cohort

“[Without the Indiana University Resilience Cohort], we would not have had the internal capacity to complete GHG Inventory based on current staffing levels”

Lauren Travis
Assistant Director of Sustainability, City of Bloomington, IN

Zero Net Energy Cohort

"As a local government sustainability practitioner, the 2019 Zero Net Energy Cohort webinar series provided me with valuable and detailed expertise and case studies from professionals in the field that advanced our approach to zero net energy at the City of Fremont. The webinar format offered a fine balance of technical assessments of leading edge ZNE technologies and policies and practical discussions of the governmental, economic, and cultural considerations for implementation. This added knowledge will inform the Sustainability Team’s development of policy measures, local sustainability projects, and local building reach codes as the City continues to push towards its ambitious climate and sustainability goals."

Robbie Barton
Sustainability Assistant, City of Fremont, CA

“Montgomery County jumped at the opportunity to explore the sequestration benefits associated with trees and forests. Given our aggressive GHG reduction goals of 80 percent by 2027 and carbon neutrality by 2035, increased sequestration must be in the mix of strategies we employ. The new protocol also has prompted us to think more deeply about natural climate solutions ranging from reducing the heat-island effect to increasing sequestration in the agricultural sector.”

Marc Elrich
County Executive, Montgomery County, MD

SolSmart Cohort

“Working with ICLEI to achieve SolSmart designation showed us we are on the right track and that we should continue to work through the SolSmart roadmap. As a designated Silver community, we can strive to meet gold designation. SolSmart incentivizes the County to go further."

Heather Brown
Sustainability Coordinator, Sullivan County, NY