Item Description:
title
Amd 1 to Work Order PR00005896 with U of M to provide support for land-based greenhouse gas accounting, ext date to 12/31/26, incr NTE to $400,000
end
Resolution:
body
BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Administrator approve Amendment 1 to Work Order PR00005896 with the Regents of the University of Minnesota to provide technical, scientific, and coordination support for land-based greenhouse gas accounting, increasing the not to exceed amount by $300,750 to $400,000 and extending the end date from June 6, 2025 to December 31, 2026; that following review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the County Administrator be authorized to sign the Amendment on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
end
Background:
Work Order PR00005896 is an ongoing project through the Hennepin-University Partnership, managed by the Environment and Energy Department and jointly funded with the Climate and Resiliency Department to incorporate emissions and sequestration from land-based activities into the county’s greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory. The project will develop a methodology for quantifying land-based GHGs, estimate avoided emissions associated with land protection activities, assess potential sequestration of carbon through various natural resource projects at a parcel-scale, and develop a framework that will guide the county’s approach to using nature-based climate solutions to meet climate mitigation and adaptation goals, including the goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Land-based carbon emissions and sequestration were not included in the GHG inventories that were completed as part of the development of the Climate Action Plan due to the complicated nature of the methodologies involved. However, carbon sequestration accounts for more than 10% of the required structural reductions to meet the net zero by 2050 goal. Existing roles, responsibilities, and programming, like tree planting, conservation easement acquisition, soil health improvements, wetland protection and restoration, and the county’s role as a Soil and Water Conservation District are referenced in the Climate Action Plan to accomplish climate action goals.
Incorporating land-based emissions into the GHG inventory is an important first step toward accounting for carbon emissions reductions achieved through natural resources investments and activities. Carbon sequestration cannot be counted toward the net zero goal unless it is incorporated into the GHG inventory.
Nature-based climate solutions are climate solution multipliers because they address both sides of the climate change response - mitigation and resiliency. In addition to cost-effective mitigation benefits, nature-based climate solutions increase resilience to a changing climate, especially in reducing flooding and extreme heat. Resilience benefits are challenging to quantify but are particularly important to understand when evaluating investments in nature-based climate solutions in an area with significant human vulnerabilities to climate change.
In 2023, the Climate and Resiliency Department allocated $99,250 to initiate this project. The funding being added in this amendment will come from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund.
Current Request:
Approval of Amendment 1 to Work Order PR00005896 with the Regents of the University of Minnesota, increasing the not to exceed amount to $400,000, and extending the end date to December 31, 2026.
Impact/Outcomes:
This project brings together a team of scientists to support incorporation of land-based carbon emissions and sequestration into the county’s GHG inventory, helping to reach the county’s goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The project will result in a framework that will guide the county’s approach to prioritize, invest and measure climate mitigation and resiliency impacts of nature-based climate solutions that are a key component of meeting the net zero by 2050 goal. This ground-breaking research, and subsequent methodology and framework, will be shared with other regional partners to further leverage nature-based climate solutions.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval