This Climate Action and Sustainability Plan ( CASP ) is influenced by over twelve ( 12 ) years of data collection and decades of stories about the incredible organization of Mount Auburn Cemetery - the people and the landscape .
A Climate Action Plan focuses on greenhouse gas emissions and comprises a set of strategies and goals that reduce and ultimately eliminate dependence on fossil fuels . Mount Auburn ’ s Climate Action Plan is Part II of this document , and this plan sets Mount Auburn Cemetery on the path to be carbon-neutral by 2050 . Tracking emissions will be an ongoing task to report progress towards attaining goals set in this plan .
What are greenhouse gases ? Greenhouse gases have always been part of the earth ’ s ecosystem , and it is why planet earth is a place where humans have thrived . Three major greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide ( CO2 ), methane ( CH4 ) and nitrous oxide ( N2O ). Industrialization , with the extraction and use of fossil-fuels over the last 150 years – a source of much pride and innovation – has caused an imbalance in these gases in the atmosphere thereby causing what has become known as ‘ human enhanced greenhouse effect ’. Rather than continuing our extractive methods of living , the climate action and
Figure 1 - Source : US National Park Service sustainability plan is highlighting ways to give back to the earth and attempt to correct the imbalances in the atmosphere .
Emissions are divided into three scopes : scope 1 , 2 and 3 .
Scope 1 emissions are based on British Thermal Units ( BTUs ) and combustion engines . Emissions from stationary combustion equipment used for heating buildings or operating the crematory are calculated based on monthly bills for BTUs . Emissions from the Vehicles and Equipment that burn gasoline , propane and diesel fuels are calculated based on the purchasing records throughout the year . Every time an employee fills a gas tank , it gets reported . Mount Auburn ’ s accounting department maintains this list of daily reporting and aggregates it monthly and balances it against monthly purchases .
Scope 2 emissions are based on the purchase of electricity in kilowatt hours ( kWh ) that are calculated based on monthly bills .
Scope 3 emissions are harder to quantify , and they are not being identified in this first Climate Action and Sustainability Plan . Scope 3 emissions are a result of employees traveling to and
Mount Auburn Cemetery | Climate Action & Sustainability Plan 2