Greenline Earth Day 2022

Friday, April 22nd marks the world’s 52nd Earth Day. This year’s theme is Invest in Our Planet, and the current administration is investing in our planet through a series of EOs (Executive Orders), supporting green initiatives through waste prevention, recycling, and emissions reduction. While it remains to be determined how the goals and objectives of the recent Sustainability EOs and other actions from the administration will impact federal agencies, the NPS (National Park Service) and NPS concessioners specifically, this year’s Earth Day article outlines what the NPS is doing to support climate change mitigation and implementation of sustainability best practices.

Federal Sustainability

EO 14057 Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability demonstrates how the United States government will lead by example to provide a strong foundation for American businesses to compete and win globally in the clean energy economy while creating well paying, union jobs at home.

Section 207 charges the NPS director to minimize waste and support markets for recycled products. Parks are encouraged and expected to minimize waste, divert waste from landfills, and increase the use of reusable or compostable items rather than single-use plastics.

Included in this EO is guidance to purchase products that contain recycled content, are biobased, or are energy and water efficient, in accordance with relevant statutory requirements; and, to the maximum extent practicable, purchase sustainable products and services identified or recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

EO 14008 Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad aims to empower workers through rebuilding our infrastructure to be more sustainable and support a clean energy economy. This EO implements a government-wide approach to combat the climate crisis and asserts the United States' intention to put the climate crisis at the center of the country's foreign policy and national security.

The NPS is expected to adhere to the requirements of the Made in America Laws in making clean energy and energy efficiency decisions. The EO charges the NPS with providing a description of the agency's climate vulnerabilities and describe the agency's plan to use the power of procurement to increase the energy and water efficiency of United States Government installations, buildings, and facilities and ensure they are climate ready.

Green Parks Plan

The Sustainable Operations and Maintenance Branch (SOMB) of the NPS Park Facility Management Division (PFMD) is currently working on updating the NPS Green Parks Plan (GPP). The plan defines the overarching vision for more sustainable park operations.

The plan provides 10 goal areas and performance targets that focus on environmental and human welfare:

• Continuously Improve Environmental Performance

• Be Climate Friendly and Climate Ready

• Be Energy Smart

• Be Water Wise

• Green Our Rides

• Buy Green and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• Preserve Outdoor Experiences, Promote Healthy Engagement

• Strengthen Sustainability Partnerships

• Foster Sustainability Beyond Our Boundaries

• Green Our Grounds.

Each goal area is supported by performance objectives. The GPP goes beyond park boundaries and aims to positively impact and protect natural resources at regional, national, and global levels. The GPP challenges the parks to view all actions through the lens of sustainability to preserve and protect the environment. To read more about the GPP you can access the current plan online (see above link). Concessioners can continue to support goals and objectives of the GPP through various environmental and sustainability initiatives required by their contracts or as proposed during the prospectus process.

Climate Friendly Parks

The Climate Friendly Parks (CFP) Program has been supporting GPP initiatives and those initiatives outlined in recent executive orders for almost 20 years. CFP provides parks with support to address climate change within the park and surrounding areas. Since 2003, the CFP program has aimed to measure park-based greenhouse gas emissions, educate park staff and visitors about climate change, assist parks in creating an action plan to reduce emissions, and prepare for the impacts of climate change.

Over 140 parks have become CFP members and created Climate Action Plans. The CFP program assists parks in developing strategies and action plans to address sustainability challenges, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and anticipate climate change impacts in each park. For concessioners in a CFP member park, you may have already been asked to engage with park leadership in achieving CFP goals. If not, consider reaching out to your park concessions specialist to find out if you operate in a CFP member park and how you might contribute and/or how you could partner with park leadership to get on the path to becoming a CFP member park.

Coastal Facilities Vulnerability Assessments

In an effort to address threats to storm surge, sea level rise, and other coast hazards, the NPS has partnered with Western Carolina University to conduct vulnerability assessments to identify park resources and infrastructure that are at risk. The main goal of these studies is to determine NPS assets that are most at risk over time and inform better decision making within coastal parks. These vulnerability assessments include NPS assets listed in the NPS Facility Management Software System which includes assets assigned to NPS concessioners.

Vulnerability assessments will identify risks and serve as decision guidance on investing or divesting park infrastructure. In addition to exposure and sensitivity, coastal assessments factor in mission and resource value (historic significance; operational need; visitor resource; level of vulnerability; etc.). These assessments help parks prepare, understand, and make decisions concerning vulnerable areas. The vulnerability assessment protocol is being used for inland parks, as the same process can be applied to other natural hazards like wildfires, floods, and landslides. As this program continues, information and data collected may eventually serve to inform concessions operational infrastructure as well. For more information on this program see the Coastal Facilities Vulnerability Assessments page under NPS Climate Change section.

Concessioner Resources

Find more information on climate related executive orders on The White House website. See how the NPS is practicing sustainability and environmental stewardship through the Green Parks Plan and more on the NPS Sustainability site. Learn more about coastal park vulnerabilities and climate resistant practices at NPS.gov. Concessioners can celebrate Earth Day by continuing to invest in green practices throughout their operations that better the environment and support resource protection in the parks they serve. Happy Earth Day!