This performance measure shows whether the City is getting closer to achieving its Climate Action Plan goal to have zero carbon emissions caused by the vehicles it owns by 2050. This is important because carbon emissions have negative impacts on nature and human health and well-being. Carbon emissions have even greater negative effects on Black, Indigenous and people of color and other marginalized communities.

The data shows that carbon emissions from City-owned vehicles have been decreasing over time. In FY 23-24, fleet emissions were 6 percentage points off the pace needed to s to meet its Climate Action Plan goal of zero carbon emissions from City-owned vehicles by 2050. However, recent grants for EVs, including heavy electric trucks and expansion of the City’s charging infrastructure through a Charging-as-a-Service (CAAS) contract is expected to accelerate emissions reductions in FY 25-26 and beyond.

This reduction in carbon emissions contributes to making our natural environment healthier, and to improving the health and well-being of people who live, work and recreate in Portland. Additionally, lower carbon emissions and particulates have a disproportionate positive impact on the health and well-being of Black, Indigenous, people of color and other marginalized communities in our city, which are traditionally in areas that are lower-lying and prone to flooding, that have less tree canopy, and that are nearer to pollution sources such as industrial areas, freight corridors and freeways.

These numbers were calculated using information from all City-owned vehicles. We took the amount of fuel used by the vehicles in gallons and multiplied it by the emissions per gallon estimates (factoring in the different types of vehicles that the City owns). The result equals the number of carbon emissions in tons. The percentage change in tons of carbon emissions in one fiscal year is compared to the total in the previous fiscal year to establish the percentage in carbon emissions change. This data is collected and tracked by the Bureau of Fleet & Facilities, and it includes fuel dispensed by the City in its facilities and fuel purchased in other fueling facilities.

Visit the Bureau of Fleet and Facilities website for more information.