{"671285":{"#nid":"671285","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech to Help Develop State\u2019s First Climate Action Plan ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers have spent years diving deep into climate solutions for Georgia. Now, the state Department of Natural Resources\u2019 Environmental Protection Division has tapped them to help develop the state\u2019s first climate action plan.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe plan will help the state compete for up to $500 million in federal funding for climate mitigation efforts under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.\u0026nbsp;Under a contract with the agency, the Georgia Tech team will work with partners across Georgia to help the state develop its greenhouse gas inventory, develop a plan to address the most important immediate opportunities the state can take to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and potentially help develop policies and programs to reach those goals.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech and our academic, business, and community partners from across the state are uniquely suited to help Georgia identify implementation-ready solutions that can significantly reduce emissions and have beneficial impacts on Georgia communities,\u201d said Marilyn A. Brown, Regents\u2019 Professor and Brook Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Public Policy\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cAs part of our work with Drawdown Georgia, we already have been deeply involved in identifying climate pollution reduction strategies to drive economic and employment growth, improve air quality, deliver benefits to under-resourced residents, and protect the environment.\u0026nbsp;That work gives us a great head start in providing the state the information it needs to develop Georgia\u2019s first climate action plan,\u201d \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/marilyn-a-brown\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EBrown\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E said.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EGeorgia Tech-Built Emissions Tracker Key Component\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.drawdownga.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EDrawdown Georgia\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E is an initiative of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation to accelerate progress toward net zero greenhouse gas emissions in Georgia. Brown led the interdisciplinary science and policy team that \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/news\/item\/634630\/georgia-tech-leads-team-effort-reduce-carbon-footprint\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Ehelped develop\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E the plan\u2019s recommendations.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ECentral to the project is the \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/drawdownga.gatech.edu\/tracker\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eclimate emissions tracker\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E developed at Georgia Tech as part of that project. The tool provides monthly insights into carbon emissions across Georgia\u2019s 159 counties, providing more timely, accurate, and cost-effective data than the traditional tools used in other climate planning efforts.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reviewed the tracker and gave special permission for the state to use it, said William J. Drummond, associate professor in the \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/planning.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ESchool of City \u0026amp; Regional Planning\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E and co-principal investigator on the project.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EMany other states will instead have to use more traditional bottom-up inventories that take longer to create and are not as frequently updated, he said.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cThe work we have done has been peer-reviewed and published, and so it has a level of authoritativeness that other states may not enjoy,\u201d said \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/planning.gatech.edu\/people\/william-drummond\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EDrummond\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E, who led the tracker\u2019s development. \u201cWe are uniquely positioned to identify actionable solutions for Georgia, help the state meet its incredibly tight timeline, and give Georgia a competitive advantage that other states just can\u2019t match.\u201d\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe Atlanta Regional Commission, which received separate funding to make a plan specific to metro Atlanta, also will use the tracker in its work.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EState Plan Due in March\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe state\u2019s priority plan is due in March, with the full plan due a year later.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cThe Georgia Environmental Protection Division is excited to work with Georgia Tech in the development of the state\u0027s first climate action plan and appreciates all the work that Georgia Tech and other Drawdown Georgia partners have done to lay the groundwork for this project,\u201d said DeAnna Oser, assistant branch chief of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division\u2019s Air Protection Branch.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe effort is focused on implementation-ready solutions. Brown said proposals could include projects that advance transportation electrification, energy-efficient housing, climate-smart agriculture, forest management, and urban tree canopies, among other opportunities.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EShe said it is exciting to see the years of work her team has put into climate mitigation practices and policies to help move Georgia closer to being climate-neutral.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u201cWe\u2019ve always hoped that this work would have real policy impacts that will help improve our environment, economy, and society,\u201d Brown said. \u201cIt\u2019s exhilarating to see the state recognize and incorporate our work, and I look forward to seeing where it leads.\u201d\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe emissions tracker created by a Georgia Tech-led team will play an important role in the work, researchers say.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The emissions tracker created by a Georgia Tech-led team will play an important role in the work, researchers say."}],"uid":"34600","created_gmt":"2023-11-28 19:38:01","changed_gmt":"2023-11-30 15:01:49","author":"mpearson34","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-11-28T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2023-11-28T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"672463":{"id":"672463","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech researchers will help the state develop its first climate action plan.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers will help the state develop its first climate action plan.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1701206296","gmt_created":"2023-11-28 21:18:16","changed":"1701206296","gmt_changed":"2023-11-28 21:18:16","alt":"\u0022\u0022","file":{"fid":"255701","name":"georgia climate plan illustration 2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/11\/28\/georgia%20climate%20plan%20illustration%202.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/11\/28\/georgia%20climate%20plan%20illustration%202.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":232406,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/11\/28\/georgia%20climate%20plan%20illustration%202.jpg?itok=zsqa29OW"}}},"media_ids":["672463"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/news\/item\/634630\/georgia-tech-leads-team-effort-reduce-carbon-footprint","title":"Georgia Tech Leads Team Effort to Reduce Georgia\u2019s Carbon Footprint"},{"url":"https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/news\/item\/649070\/national-academy-publishes-study-showing-georgia-could-halve-carbon","title":"National Academy Publishes Study Showing How Georgia Could Halve its Carbon Footprint"},{"url":"https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/news\/item\/667778\/georgia-emissions-declining-georgia-tech-drawdown-georgia-research-team","title":"Georgia Emissions Declining, Georgia Tech-led Drawdown Georgia Research Team Shows"}],"groups":[{"id":"1281","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"},{"id":"1289","name":"School of Public Policy"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EMichael Pearson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}