THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
TRANSFORM
Inventory: Northeast Ohio greenhouse gas emissions
In Northeast Ohio, we have an energy-intensive
economy and way of life. Much of our energy
What you can do
comes from burning high-carbon fossil fuels, such
as coal and oil. This means that we are responsible
for a disproportionate share of greenhouse gases
that are destabilizing the Earth’s climate. At the
GreenCityBlueLake Institute, we believe that we should
do everything possible to reduce these greenhouse
gas emissions. We also believe that aggressive
action to tackle the problem of climate change will
drive innovation, make our region more economically
competitive, and improve our quality of life in the long
• Calculate your own carbon footprint at
www.clevelandcarbonfund.org.
• Conserve energy and save money by turning
off lights and making your home more efficient,
driving less, and eating a more vegetarian diet.
• Encourage your city to sign on to the U.S.
Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.
• Support policy changes and community
projects that reduce fossil fuel consumption
and move Northeast Ohio to a clean, lowcarbon future.
run.
The first step toward understanding our metropolitan
area’s share of greenhouse gas emissions (also called
our “carbon footprint”) is to take an inventory of all the
sources. Using computer software that cities around
the country are using, we did this inventory for a sevencounty region, including Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina,
Summit, Portage, Geauga, and Lake counties. The data
came from 2005, and in the future we can measure
progress toward emissions reduction against this
baseline year.
Did you
know?
The Cleveland Carbon Fund
is a great way to reduce your
unavoidable carbon dioxide
emissions while supporting
community projects.
By making a charitable contribution to the fund online at
www.clevelandcarbonfund.org, you can reduce emissions generated by your house, travel, diet or other source. The donations
are held at The Cleveland Foundation and are used to make
grants for carbon reduction projects in local neighborhoods.
What did we learn?
• Northeast Ohioans generated about 64 million tons of
carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) in 2005. This equates
to about 23 tons per person, which is higher than the
national average.
Ohio will need a smarter electrical grid to manage
new sources of renewable energy.
• Electricity generation, natural gas consumption, and
transportation are the main sources of emissions.
• Carbon emissions are expected to increase if we don’t
take action.
What types of carbon sources are included
in the inventory?
• Kilowatt hours of electricity used by Northeast Ohio
residents, businesses, and industries.
• Action should focus on reducing carbon emissions from
three key sectors: electricity generation, transportation,
and buildings. Detailed transition plans for these sectors
are on the GreenCityBlueLake website.
• Cubic feet of natural gas consumed in Northeast Ohio.
• Tons of solid waste generated and method of disposal.
• Vehicle miles traveled by on-road transportation.
• Gallons of fuel consumed and kilowatt hours of
electricity used for public transportation.
More than a quarter of Northeast Ohio’s carbon
emissions comes from the transportation sector.
The development of more walkable communities
can reduce automobile dependence.
T RA NSI T I ON:
• Consumption of all other home heating fuels (e.g.,
wood, coal, oil, propane).
• Consumption of fuels by large industrial facilities with air
pollution permits.
Diesel (5%)
Other (2%)
Gasoline (23%)
Natural Gas (20%)
• There is no “silver bullet” solution. Rather, there
are many solutions, all with multiple benefits —
environmental, social, and economic. Climate change
mitigation activities should be at the center of the
region’s broader sustainability planning.
Electricity (50%)
Northeast Ohio emissions by fuel source
About half of Northeast Ohio’s 64 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions
come from the generation of electricity, mostly from coal-burning power plants.
• Regional action in Northeast Ohio can make a global
difference. The region is 20 percent of Ohio’s economy,
which is the 23rd largest in the world. Our actions and
successes can become a model for other metropolitan
regions around the world.
More information
For more information about the carbon footprint of
Northeast Ohio, see
www.gcbl.org/research/climatechange
© 2012 The Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Green City Blue Lake INSTITU TE
1 Wade Oval Dr.
Cleveland, OH 44106
216 231 4600
www.gcbl.org