BY JJ LISTER!

By ALEHANDAROPEDROFILIPEMAHNELLEUSEBIO

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the City of Austin a national 2013 Climate Leadership Award.

‘International protocols for climate action recommend that communities around the world reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to, on average, 70% below 2006 levels by 2030, to avert catastrophic effects from global warming. As a U.S. leader, Austin has embraced the opportunity to help define and model the role of a city committed to climate action and sustainability.’

In 2007, Austin City Council passed a resolution which established a Climate Protection Plan to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2011, Council approved the Austin Energy Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan, which updated goals to more aggressively mitigate emissions through 2020.

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Austin Community Tree ProgramThe Austin Community Tree (ACT) program is a

neighborhood tree planting program that focuses on reducing the Urban Heat Island effect by planting more trees on private property. The addition of trees can cool

daytime temperatures in neighborhoods. The ACT program is offered free to eligible neighborhoods

ACT Program 2013:This year the ACT program went to the Southeast

Combined Neighborhood Planning Area. 911 trees were delivered to the community. Planting assistance was

provided to those who requested resulting in over 311 trees planted by community volunteers.

http://www.10best.com/interests/trip-pics/weird-wacky-festivals-around-the-world/

From music and film festivals to races and food contests, Austin is home to many special events that attract hundreds of thousands of attendees. These large crowds leave behind large amounts of trash, most of which can be recycled or composted. Austin Resource Recovery’s Event Recycling program provides resources to improve waste diversion at events in Austin.

Zero Waste Event Rebate:• The City of Austin’s Zero Waste Event Rebate is an incentive for event

organizers to make their outdoor events more sustainable and help reduce the amount of trash sent to area landfills.

• The purpose of the Zero Waste Event Rebate program is to:• Provide event organizers a financial incentive to improve waste

reduction and diversion efforts at outdoor events in Austin.• Gather data from qualifying events to use in developing best

practices guidance and future city policy initiatives.• Help promote and achieve the City of Austin's Zero Waste goal.