Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gases (GHG) trap heat in the atmosphere and help to maintain the Earth’s surface at a temperature that is comfortable for human life. The main GHG that exist in our atmosphere are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and sulfur hexafluoride.

Although many GHG occur naturally, their concentration in the atmosphere has greatly increased due to human activity. This increase has been evident since the Industrial Revolution. The primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions are electricity production, transportation, industrial processes, agriculture and the use of natural gas and other fossil fuels for heat. When a fossil fuel undergoes combustion it releases GHG.

As levels of GHG in the atmosphere increase, the temperature on the Earth’s surface also increases. To limit the levels of GHG emitted into the atmosphere, it is important to keep track of total GHG released. The annual GHG emissions inventory is a starting point for measuring efforts to reduce GHG emissions.

See below for the details of the most recent GHG emissions inventory.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report

The baseline inventory for the City of Miami Beach was compiled by the Environment & Sustainability (E&S) Department in 2014. An annual community-wide and government operations GHG inventory is compiled each year.

The GHG inventory guides and supports the creation of emission reduction programs and policies. The city is currently working on its first Climate Action Plan which will prioritize high-impact actions to reduce GHG emissions and set GHG emissions reduction targets.

View the 2021 and 2022 GHG Emissions Inventory report here.

Community Wide Emissions

The baseline emissions community-wide, in 2014, totaled 1,210,567 MT CO2e (metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents) which is equivalent to the carbon sequestered by roughly 1.5 million acres of forests in one year. In 2022, emissions community-wide totaled 1,015,901 MT CO2e which is equivalent to the emissions from more than 241,786 passenger vehicles driven for one year. Between 2014 and 2022, community-wide GHG emissions were fairly stable, with a decrease and subsequently lower emissions in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each year, the largest source of emissions has been energy consumption in buildings, followed by transportation and solid waste. In 2022, the biggest source of emissions was commercial energy which was responsible for 46% of emissions community-wide. Residential energy accounted for 24% of emissions, followed by transportation which accounted for 20%, solid waste which accounted for 10%, and wastewater which accounted for less than 1%.

Government Operations Emissions

The emissions from government operations represented 3.4% of the community wide emissions in 2019. The baseline emissions from government operations, in 2014 totaled 36,834 MT CO2e and in 2022 summed to 33,787 MT CO2e.

Emissions from electricity consumption dropped in 2016 due to construction on the Miami Beach Convention Center which represents our largest electricity accounts. In 2019, the reopening of the Miami Beach Convention Center caused a rise in emissions from government operations. Emissions then dropped in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lower usage of the Miami Beach Convention Center.

In 2022, emissions from energy consumption in buildings and facilities was responsible for 67% of emissions from government operations. The vehicle fleet accounted for 22% of emissions, followed by public street and highway lighting which accounted for 9%, and the transit fleet (trolleys) which accounted for 2% of emissions from government operations.

Global Covenant of Mayors Resolution

On October 14, 2015, the City Commission adopted a Resolution endorsing the Global Covenant of Mayors (formerly Compact of Mayors) pledge, where the city committed to reducing local GHG emissions; measuring the community emissions inventory using a consistent and robust standard; identifying climate-related hazards; setting data-based targets for the future; and developing a climate action plan.

Resolution 2015-29156

Emissions Reduction Goal

On April 21, 2021, the City Commission unanimously adopted a Resolution declaring climate change is caused by "human activity" and pledging to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. Compiling a regular GHG emissions inventory is crucial to track the City's progress towards its net-zero goal and helps to benchmark progress as we implement mitigation policies and programs. Achieving net-zero emissions will require policy changes and investments in upgrading the City's energy systems.

Resolution 2021-31664

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