Climate Change Data

Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA)

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2022)

Reporting Period: 2022

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:55,764 tonnes CO2e/year (2020)

ESG Focus Areas

  • Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)
  • Emissions (Greenhouse Gas and Pollution)
  • Ridership
  • Waste
  • Water
  • Resiliency and Business Continuity

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced GHG emissions per vehicle mile by 11% since 2013
  • Reduced PM2.5 per vehicle mile by 73% since 2013
  • Pollution reductions fostered more than $10 million in community savings through avoided work disruptions and medical costs within Franklin County.

Social Achievements

  • Establishing EDI as a central characteristic of its strategic plan
  • Created a Chief Equity Officer and an EDI program
  • Engagement initiated through four Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Governance Achievements

  • Creation of the Safe and Secure COTA for All Task Force
  • Maintaining operations through ongoing development and management of the COTA Business Continuity Plan (CBCP)

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2045
  • Net-Zero Particulate Matter 2.5 Emissions by 2045
  • 100% waste diversion rate from landfills by 2045
  • Increase passenger miles traveled by 50% by 2050
  • Implementation of at least 5 high-capacity rapid transit lines by 2050
Medium-term Goals:
  • Increase passenger miles traveled by 20% by 2030
  • Implementation of 3 regional high-capacity rapid transit lines by 2030
  • 70% reduction in GHG emissions from 2013 baseline by 2035
Short-term Goals:
  • 2% annual increase in ridership Performance Incentive Compensation metric
  • 2% annual reduction in water intensity (ccf/gross square footage)

Environmental Challenges

  • Dynamic economic and technological landscape for climate change solutions
  • Capacity limitations restrict the number of EV cabinets that can be added at COTA facilities
  • Vehicle range differs between vehicle technologies
  • Annual revenue vehicle miles constrained by BEB vehicle range and on-route charging
  • Increased facility GHG emissions (28% increase since 2013)
  • COVID-19 pandemic impact on revenue vehicle miles (19% reduction in 2020)
  • Limited availability of zero-emission vehicles for the mobility fleet
  • Uncertainty in long-term product support of traditional vehicles
Mitigation Strategies
  • Four-step engagement cycle for ongoing strategic energy management
  • Studies on electric vehicle fueling strategies, grid upgrades, on-site energy reduction, generation, and storage
  • Investigation of on-route charging
  • Maximizing available charging capacity at facilities
  • Pursuit of hybrid vehicles in the near term
  • Investigation of renewable electricity options (on-site, vPPAs, pPPAs, RECs)
  • Evaluation of RNG and RINs from CNG operations
  • Energy studies at major energy-using facilities
  • Study of facility electrification needs
  • Incorporation of employee travel emissions into the metric
  • Improved building guidelines for emissions reduction

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • DBE program to ensure equal opportunity for disadvantaged businesses

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Severe weather
  • Roadway flooding
Transition Risks
  • Changing fuel costs
  • Technological changes
  • Policy changes
Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products and services
  • Increased ridership due to climate concerns