City of Union City
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2017, 2024)
Reporting Period: 2017
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Affordable Housing
- Sustainable Design
- Community Development
- Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) Participation
Social Achievements
- Goal of providing 100 affordable senior rental units
Governance Achievements
- Compliance with N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq., N.J.A.C. 17:27 (Affirmative Action), and all other applicable State and Federal law
Climate Goals & Targets
Environmental Challenges
- Environmental cleanup of the site
- Combined sewer outflows requiring a detention facility
- Parking requirements for the community and residents
Mitigation Strategies
- Designated Developer to accept full responsibility for environmental cleanup
- Water/wastewater capacity analysis to be addressed in submission
- Developer to develop recommendations regarding parking configuration
- City prepared to entertain applications for bulk variances
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Preference for local sourcing with a target goal of 20% for Union City residents
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The project aims to provide affordable senior housing, contributing to sustainable urban development.
Reporting Period: 2024
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:243,880 MTCO2e (2020)
Total Energy Consumption:239 million kWh (2020)
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced community-scale energy-related GHG emissions from 288,035 MTCO2e in 2015 to 243,880 MTCO2e in 2020 (approximately 18,000 MTCO2e reduction attributed to reduced vehicle usage, the rest to reduced emissions from electricity and heating).
Social Achievements
- Received two grants totaling $192,000 for EV charging infrastructure.
- Incorporated statewide electric vehicle charging station requirement into municipal code.
Governance Achievements
- Adopted an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging ordinance.
- Established a Green Team to lead implementation of the Community Energy Plan.
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Contribute to the State’s pursuit of 100% renewable energy by 2050 and 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2006 levels by 2050.
Medium-term Goals:
- Achieve a 20% reduction in fleet emissions within 4 years.
Short-term Goals:
- 20% reduction in energy consumption from most energy-demanding facility or 20% across all facilities within 3-5 years.
- Encourage 5% of commercial property owners to make energy efficient upgrades.
Environmental Challenges
- Low-income community with high poverty rate, creating obstacles to energy-saving actions.
- High percentage of rental housing units limiting residents' ability to make energy-saving changes.
- Many older buildings with lower energy efficiency.
- Competition for grants and covering municipal portions of costs.
- Buy-in from fleet drivers and adapting to electric vehicles.
Mitigation Strategies
- Eligibility for enhanced incentives for overburdened communities.
- Public outreach to educate residents and businesses about available incentives and programs.
- Exploring partnerships and grant opportunities to reduce cost barriers.
- Training programs for fleet drivers and staff on EVs and EVSE.
- Strategic replacement of fleet vehicles with alternative fuel vehicles.
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Using fleet analysis to inform purchases of alternative fuel vehicles.
- Working with the State, utilities providers, and contractors to reduce cost barriers.
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Opportunities
- Reduced energy costs
- Increased access to clean energy
- Creation of green jobs
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: NJ Energy Master Plan