This traffic solution also supports pedestrian infrastructure, as it uses sensor data for timing traffic signals to account all road users. We plan to continue developing such solutions as a means of improving transportation for all. People who choose to cycle or walk more often will do so if they have a better experience.
SCW: Has your ability to collaborate more closely with other departments during your time with the City of Portland and is that still the case with so many cross departmental projects and initiatives?
Moon: I’ve been in this role for approximately six years. I’ve also been an employee of Portland for over 25 years in different roles. Because I have managed other programs within the city, I was able to help people who are new to the city. I also worked in public work and parks.
Over the years, I have been able to establish relationships with many people in the city, which has been very helpful. Our elected officials are also committed to climate action. Over the past few years, there has been cross-department collaboration and participation. The planning department updated the city’s comprehensive plan. They did a great deal of getting my input as the sustainability coordination. I felt that I was a part of the comprehensive planning process.
Nearly all departments are now involved in some degree of climate work. They can see how their efforts help make the city more resilient to the changing climate. It has certainly improved over the past few years.
SCW: How do you collaborate with other participants on climate action? How can you ensure your work is connected to the work of others?
Moon: It’s not enough that someone is responsible for sustainability. We actually created our municipal climate action plan together with South Portland. This means that there is one plan for both cities.
Our goal was to highlight the importance regional thinking when addressing climate changes. While Portland and South Portland may have their own climate action plans, they won’t be as effective if they don’t work together to develop policies that complement one another. Both cities recognize that their decisions have an impact on their neighbor, so it is crucial that we continue to communicate and collaborate. We hope that this collaboration will encourage other communities to do the same and work on climate change in the region.
The state of Maine had already begun work on its climate action plans before we adopted theirs. This allowed us to communicate with the team responsible for the state’s climate action plans, which was extremely helpful. It is a great example of the importance of working together at all levels. The real climate action leaders have been cities, especially in the US. It’s great to see the federal government implementing good policies.
SCW: What advice would your community give you on how to better engage in climate and sustainability dialogue?
Moon: While there is much work to be done at the policy level. However, citizens and businesses must take specific actions to reduce carbon emissions in their daily lives.
I mentioned earlier that 60% of Portland’s greenhouse gas emissions are caused by buildings, whether commercial or residential. We will be focusing on electrification to get people to use heat pumps in order to decarbonise. To do this, we have to get people to accept that heat pumps can be effective. There is resistance right now. We can use one of the major selling points to highlight the fact that heat pumps also cool your house as the weather warms up, so they act as a resilience measure.
It’s about how we maintain a high standard of living here. And, frankly, if climate change is not addressed now, that quality of live will decline.
It is important to have policies to support that promotion. While it is one thing to tell people that they should get a heatpump and explain the benefits, they also need financial tools to make that happen. We have been working very hard at the state to encourage financial assistance programs. We have worked closely with the state efficiency agency to make sure citizens are aware of them and take advantage of what they have to offer. It’s about funding programs to help low-income people and those who will struggle to pay for such technology. This is the equipment that our most vulnerable citizens will need the most.
It is similar with EVs when it comes to changing mindsets and making people feel comfortable that they won’t run low on power during a journey. You can change your mindset by focusing on the positives, such as lower ownership costs, no fuel costs, and lower maintenance fees. People ask a lot of questions about EVs. We are seeing that mindset change through curiosity. And we will see the transition accelerate. We are investing a lot of effort in EV charging infrastructure in Portland to make it more visible, especially for those who live in apartments that don’t have access to a driveway.
SCW: How much can you trust the community’s wellbeing and better living conditions when trying to get support from citizens for projects such as these?
Moon:It’s an important point. Portland is a great city to live in. It is right on the waterfront, has great restaurants and museums, and generally it is a pleasant place to reside with a high standard of living. Our mission statement was created while we were working on our climate action plans. It is to ensure that Portland, South Portland, and other cities remain liveable, vibrant and equitable in the future.
It’s about maintaining a high standard of living here. And if we don’t take action now to address climate change, then that quality will decline. It is our responsibility to make Portland a great place to call home in 2050. This means that we must decarbonize as quickly as possible and implement change while we still have some control over whether or not it is positive or negative.
People are realizing how wonderful the community has been since the pandemic. They are realizing that if they use them differently, and if they can make them more sustainable, it can really make a difference. People began to use our city parks in a similar manner to how they would have used them 100 year ago. Before travel was considered a necessity, there was less freedom for them to travel. People have discovered that they like this and that’s how we can build better communities.