Monday, February 3, 2025 – Washoe County released its Community-wide Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory today, measuring 6.32 million metric tons (MMT) of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) for calendar year 2021 across Reno, Sparks, and unincorporated Washoe County. This is a 4% increase over the County’s first GHG Inventory for calendar year 2008. These emissions increases show that Washoe County is not on track to meet County and State goals to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050, even as Climate Central data shows that Reno is the fastest-warming metro in the United States.
Washoe County is leading by example to reduce emissions to Net Zero by 2050. In 2022, Washoe County established its Sustainability Division. In 2024, Washoe County released its first draft Climate Action Plan to address the emissions reported in this community-wide inventory.
With methodology improvements, the 2021 inventory measures emissions sources that the 2014 inventory did not, such as non-road transportation, industrial fuel oil use and fugitive emissions. Together, these newly-calculated sources caused 0.99 MMT (22%) of the 40% CO2e increase, with the remainder of the growth, 0.81 MMT CO2e (18%), coming from sources included in the 2014 Community-wide inventory, such as on-road diesel emissions, aviation, and commercial energy.
The most significant contributors to carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is the burning of fossil fuels for transportation, energy generation and other purposes. Washoe County’s GHG inventory data shows that Transportation (37%) and Energy generation (57%) cause 94% of the County’s emissions, with the remaining emissions coming from Solid Waste (2%), Process & Fugitive Emissions (3%), and Water & Wastewater (1%).
2021 Washoe County Community Emissions (MMT CO2e)
In addition to Community-wide inventory, Washoe County calculated emissions for its own government operations for the first time. Washoe County Government Operations emissions totaled 32,601 metric tons (MT) CO2e. These emissions are included as part of the 6.32 MMT community-wide emissions. The Community-Wide and County Operations 2021 emissions numbers will be the baseline against which the County will measure GHG reduction targets. The 2019 Nevada Legislature established GHG reduction targets of 28% by 2025 and 45% by 2030 in addition to the “zero or near-zero” 2050 goal.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report confirms that human activities have unequivocally caused an increase in the carbon emissions that are warming our planet. Climate Central data shows that Reno is the fastest-warming metro in the United States. Washoe County is leading by example to reduce emissions to Net Zero by 2050. In 2022, Washoe County established its Sustainability Division. In 2024, Washoe County released its first draft Climate Action Plan to address the emissions reported in this community-wide inventory.
“This inventory of 2021 emissions tells us we have a lot of work to do to address dangerous emissions and the impacts of climate change in our communities,” said Brian Beffort, Washoe County Sustainability Manager. “The County’s draft Climate Action Plan includes more than 100 proposed actions to reduce emissions from Transportation, Buildings, Energy generation and Waste. These actions will help clean our air, lower people’s energy bills, and nurture a community that is more resilient against future climate impacts.”
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Net zero is a state of balance between emissions and emissions reductions.
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. Examples include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Each gas has a different warming impact on the earth’s climate, so scientists multiply the “global warming potentials” of each gas to calculate carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e), a single number that communicates the impact of different gases.
Fugitive emissions come from unintentional releases of GHGs from uses such as refrigeration, aerosols, fire extinguishing materials, solvents, or the distribution of power or natural gas.
Washoe County is grateful for Fuse Fellow Emily Stapleton, who calculated and wrote the 2021 GHG Emissions Inventory.
For more information, contact:
- Brian Beffort, Washoe County Sustainability Manager: 775-447-0856; bbeffort@washoecounty.gov
- Emily Stapleton, Climate Fellow, Fuse Corps: 775-484-5696; estapleton@washoecounty.gov
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