ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Months after releasing a regional greenhouse gas inventory, Lehigh Valley planners are working on their next project: a Greater Lehigh Valley Comprehensive Climate Action Plan.
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission officials on Jan. 22 held the first regional climate planning workshop of the year, WorkshopLV: Environment.
On the agenda were activities as well as information about the effects of climate change in the Valley.
"We are excited to share preliminary findings and receive input on ideas and strategies that can be implemented at a regional level to help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions."Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
“During this upcoming workshop, we’ll introduce the project, review ongoing research and suggested targets, and provide the opportunity to help prioritize actions for reducing emissions from each of our seven major emission sectors," LVPC officials said in a description of the event.
It listed those sectors as industrial, transportation, commercial, residential, agricultural, water and wastewater and solid waste.
“We are excited to share preliminary findings and receive input on ideas and strategies that can be implemented at a regional level to help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,” the description said.
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission declined to be interviewed for this report.
Climate action planning
Over the past couple years, the Valley has seen a flurry of climate action planning as more federal funding has become available.
The LVPC in early 2023 got a $1 million infusion of federal funds after officials opted into the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program, part of the federal Inflation Reduction Act.
With the federal funding, the commission was tasked with creating a Priority Climate Action Plan, or PCAP, focused on transportation decarbonization, as well as a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, or CCAP.
The latter is expected this summer.
The PCAP, released in February 2024, encompasses the entire Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties in Pennsylvania, as well as New Jersey’s Warren County.
In September, the commission published its regional greenhouse gas inventory.
Overall, the report shows the region emits 12.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, or MTCO₂e, working out to about 14.7 MTCO₂e per resident.
WorkshopLV: Environment
A presentation posted on the commission’s website from the event includes 38 slides, including introductions, agenda, goals and rules from the workshop.
Among the goals were: provide context for climate action work and understand how [the] community envisions climate action and its corresponding benefits.
Also, get input on potential greenhouse gas reduction measures across all sectors and on evaluation criteria, and provide opportunity for questions.
A “Postcard from the Future” activity asked participants, “What does a future free from climate change look like to you?”
During a “Measures Activity,” participants were asked to pick three measures they liked best to reduce carbon emissions or would like to see in their community.
Finally, a “Rank Criteria Activity” asked participants, “With you[r] remaining stickers, please indicate your Top 3 screening criteria to consider for the measures you just prioritized.”
More work ahead
Asked for the results of the final activity, LVPC spokesman Matt Assad said, “The Rank Criteria Activity was a group discussion based on the criteria in the [PowerPoint], but the results have not been analyzed yet.”
The commission also released a survey for residents to share their opinions about climate change mitigation strategies.
“We are seeking your opinion about how climate change is impacting you and what we can do as a region to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions" or GHG, according to a survey description.
“Your input will be instrumental in the development of the Regional CAP, and your response will help create an actionable plan for our region. All individual responses will be confidential.”
Asked how long the survey will be available, Assad said, “There is no deadline set for the survey, but I think they intend to shut it down at the end of February.”
There are two more scheduled WorkshopLV: Environment events, 8:30 a.m. March 26 and April 23 at the commissions’ offices.
To register, and for more information, go to the LVPC’s website.
