Overview

As a City on the frontlines of climate change, the City of Fort Lauderdale is continually improving its efforts to adapt to climate impacts and to mitigate the causes of climate change, through reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The City's Advance Fort Lauderdale 2040 Comprehensive Plan establishes ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals, aiming to achieve an 80% reduction below 2010 levels by the year 2050. In December 2021, the City marked a significant milestone as the City Commission adopted by resolution net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goals for both the City’s government (by 2040) and the broader community it serves (by 2050).

Early in 2022, Fort Lauderdale joined the ICLEI150 Race to Zero, publicly affirming its net-zero commitment and pledging to take action to achieve these goals. In 2023, the City commenced development of a roadmap to achieve the city's net-zero objectives. This plan is expected to be completed within 2024 and will yield several critical outcomes, including:

• Quantify the greenhouse gas emissions reduction potential of specific actions across community-wide and city government operations sources.

• Prioritize actions for implementation based on a framework that considers greenhouse gas reduction potential, available funding, potential implementation barriers, and needed stakeholder support.

• Outline an implementation roadmap that highlights next steps, responsible parties, relevant community partners, costs, and timeline.

• Provide critical information with a sound technical basis to inform stakeholders, support City actions, and track implementation and greenhouse gas emissions reductions over time.

2023 Update

The 2019 GHG Inventory established a new baseline year (2019) to serve for measuring progress on the City’s net zero goals and showed that between 2010 and 2019 the City had achieved an 17% reduction in community GHG emission and 18% reduction in GHG emissions from government operations.

The 2020 GHG Inventory reveals a marked decrease in greenhouse gas emissions since the prior 2019 report, with a significant portion of this reduction likely due to temporary factors, primarily stemming from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key findings

•Community-wide GHG emissions (in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MT CO₂e)), have decreased from approximately 2.2 million in 2010 to 1.4 million in 2020 (37% decrease in emissions).

•Per capita emissions have declined from 13.53 MT CO₂e per person in 2010 to 7.4 MT CO₂e per person in 2020.

•Total emissions from government operations are 49,951 MT CO₂e, this marks a 20% reduction in GHG emissions between 2010 and 2020.

Additional Resources

• CDP: The City of Fort Lauderdale, along with major cities from around the world, regularly reports greenhouse gas emissions through the Carbon Disclosure Project CDP. 

What can I do?

Here are four ways individuals can reduce their carbon footprint and help the city with its net-zero goals:

• Save energy.
  Reduce your carbon footprint and save money. There are many low and no cost ways to do it such as turning off lights, and installing LED lights. For larger more expensive energy improvements, utility rebates and PACE programs can offer more affordable options. For more resources on financial incentives and assistance for energy efficiency, visit our Energy Efficiency Aid page. 
• Install Solar.
  In the sunshine state, solar power is a great opportunity for to reduce your electric bill and avoid the impacts of electricity rate increases. The City has made it easier to install solar by streamlining the permit process, earning the City SolSmart Gold designation. You can also learn more about solar by participating in a co-op, such as the Broward Solar Co-op. In addition, PACE programs can provide financing option when installing solar, energy efficiency improvements or hurricane hardening.
• Drive Less.
  It’s cheaper, healthier, and less polluting to walk or bike places. The City is working to make our city more walkable and bikeable through Complete Streets programs and encouraging mixed use public transportation.
• Drive Electric.
  When you have the option to choose, it is advantageous for both your finances and the environment to opt for electric or other fuel-efficient vehicles. With the steady rise in gas prices, extended Federal tax credits, and the growing production of electric vehicles by auto manufacturers, EVs have become increasingly attractive and viable alternatives.