Brookings Institute Ranks Metro Areas for Carbon Footprint

Last week, the Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C., released a report on the carbon footprint of American citizens living in the 100 largest cities.

Both Tulsa and Oklahoma City had high per capita carbon footprints, meaning that the energy use and activities of individuals are responsible for high levels of carbon dioxide being released into the air. Other large cities with high per capita carbon footprints were east of the Mississippi River, with the exception of Little Rock, St. Louis and Kansas City.

However, Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor believes that Tulsa is in the forefront of cities which are tackling issues related to greenhouse gas emissions. “Our residents appear ready to make the behavioral changes that are required,” Taylor said.

Tulsa statistics show several things: bus ridership is up 8 percent in the last 10 months; City curbside recycling subscription signups have increased 10 percent this year, to over 10,000 residents; Metropolitan Environmental Trust site collections are up, and; in 2008, recycling programs have started or expanded at top corporate employers, including BOK, Red Cross and Riggs Abney. In addition, Green Traveler signups (for Rideshare carpooling programs) have increased as well, and the City of Tulsa, will soon announce their partnership with INCOG’s Green Traveler program.

The ReGreen Tulsa program, a partnership with individuals and groups to plant 20,000 trees in Tulsa by 2010, will also help decrease the carbon footprint of Tulsans. Trees are a critical part of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. As a “producer”, like all plants, trees take in carbon dioxide and use it during the process of photosynthesis. In addition to the sugar food created for the plant by that process, the plant releases oxygen and water vapor into the atmosphere.

Taylor also cited interest in the recent Light Rail Conference, and growing excitement about PLANiTULSA, Tulsa’s comprehensive plan, as other indications that Tulsans are ready to tackle the issues.

The per capita carbon footprints were calculated using data on carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from passenger and freight highway transportation and from individual and group residential buildings. Commercial building, industry or non-highway transportation emissions were not included in determining this per capita footprint ranking.

Tulsa and Oklahoma City ranked 90th and 93rd out of 100 cities. (One means the smallest per capita footprint and 100 is the largest.)

Carbon dioxide is one of several gases labeled as greenhouse gases, because they accumulate in lower layers of the Earth’s atmosphere and trap heat close to the earth, affecting the planet’s climate.

The Brookings Institute Report analyzed data collected from 2000 – 2005.