Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Progress Summary
2000
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
27,432
11,298
17,190
18,531
20,896
15,916
15,049
180,868
187,503
181,909
188,401
185,515
183,701
178,252
303,664
179,142
220,809
214,156
211,158
143,875
163,360
218,793
266,762
241,679
244,236
243,261
222,709
242,714
269,998
312,571
286,472
282,704
271,527
285,631
310,304
Iowa City Community CO2e Totals by Sector
458,820
363,332
371,279
376,927
426,637
388,941
500,000
450,000
400,000
350,000
300,000
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
328,389
Tonnes of CO2e
Community Data- includes all greenhouse gas emissions from activities within city limits
2013
2000 Estimated CO2 in metric tonnes: 1,329,144
2013 Estimated CO2 in metric tonnes: 1,298,620
Community Summary
From the years 2000 to 2013, Iowa City decreased annual emissions by 30,524 metric tonnes, the
equivalent annual emissions of 6,426 passenger vehicles, or 2,785 homes. Emissions for this period have
remained at or below baseline levels, except for 2008, an abnormal year due to flooding. The largest
contributors to emissions remain the industrial and commercial sectors, contributing 30% and 23.9%
respectively. During this period the city has added roughly 9,000 new citizens for a population growth of 15%.
The two main power providers for Iowa City residents, MidAmerican and the UI Power Plant have both made
strides in decreasing their emissions. MidAmerican has expanded their wind power so that in 2014 wind energy
accounted for 37% of generation. In addition, the city has collaborated with the University of Iowa to obtain
information about their power plant, which continues to burn oat hulls and is in the process of implementing a
biomass fuels project in order to reach 40% renewable energy by the year 2020. Iowa City was proud to be the
first city in Iowa to complete a community wide greenhouse gas inventory. Iowa City is the only city in Iowa to
have six continuous years of emissions data and hopes to use this information to continue decreasing emissions.
Per Capita Data- breakdown of greenhouse gas emissions per capita

Carbon Dioxide Emissions Per Capita
20
18.1
5
18.2
19.0
19.4
10
19.3
15
20.9

25
21.4

Iowa City per capita greenhouse gas emissions is
18.1 as of 2013
Average per capita greenhouse gas emissions in
U.S. is 21 metric tonnes as of 2013.
Sustainable level of greenhouse gas emissions is
approximately 2 metric tonne per capita
CO2 emissions per capita have decreased 3.3
tonnes since 2000
Tonnes of CO2e

0
Next Steps: In February 2016, the Iowa City Mayor signed the Compact of Mayors, a
global coalition of city leaders launched at the 2014 United Nations Climate Summit to
address climate change. By participating in the Compact, the Mayor commits to climate
action by taking stock of greenhouse emissions and the current effects of climate
change in the city, creating an action plan with clearly defined reduction targets, and
implementing a common system of measuring emissions, monitoring climate risks, and
tracking progress with regular reports. As one of the key initiatives launched at the
Climate Summit in 2014, the Compact of Mayors is the world’s largest collective effort by cities to date to
tackle climate change. For more information, visit www.compactofmayors.org
Importance of moving forward:



Iowa City Community CO2e Totals by Sector
1,800,000
The effects of global warming due
1,600,000
to greenhouse gases (extreme
1,400,000
weather, increased flooding,
1,200,000
migration, disease) are now
1,000,000
widely accepted scientifically.
800,000
The effects of climate change can
600,000
be felt locally in years of flooding
400,000
or drought. The flood of 2008 is
200,000
an example of this. In addition, the
0
years of 2001 and 2013
experienced a flood and a drought
in the same year.
Industrial
Commercial
Residential
UI Power Plant
Transportation
Waste
America’s 2015 Clean Power Plan
CO2e As Usual
Baseline
20% Reduction
calls for 32% reductions in CO2
below 2005 levels by 2030, with action plans to be determined by states.
Iowa City has been working with climatologists to predict the impacts of climate change specific to our
area. These predictions include warmer temperatures, specifically higher nighttime temperatures, increased
precipitation, increased humidity, and more flat line winds.
Tonnes of CO2e

For more information contact:
Brenda Nations, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Iowa City
(319)-887-6161 [email protected]