|
|
 Green Building Task Force - Background and Resources
back to top
General
| Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established in in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to provide independent scientific advice on the complex and important issue of climate change. The Panel was asked to prepare, based on available scientific information, a report on all aspects relevant to climate change and its impacts and to formulate realistic response strategies. The first assessment report of the IPCC served as the basis for negotiating the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The most recent, fourth assessment report, was released in 2007. |
| IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007 |
The main activity of the IPCC is to provide in regular intervals Assessment Reports of the state of knowledge on climate change. The latest one is "Climate Change 2007", the Fourth IPCC Assessment Report. |
| University of Washington Climate Impacts Group |
Interdisciplinary research group studying the impacts of natural climate variability and global climate change (“global warming”) on the U.S. Pacific Northwest (PNW). Through research and interaction with regional stakeholders, the CIG works to increase the resilience of the Pacific Northwest to fluctuations in climate.The CIG's research focuses on four key sectors of the PNW environment: water resources, aquatic ecosystems, forests, and coasts. |
| Washington State Department of Ecology Climate Portal |
Landing page for climate policy at the state level. Includes links to the Governor's Climate Action Team, as well as working groups on Growth Management, Mandatory Reporting, Forestry and Agriculture, and the Green Economy. |
| Washington State Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Reference Case Projections, 1990-2020 |
Estimate of Washington state’s anthropogenic GHG emissions and sinks (carbon storage) for the period from 1990 to 2020. |
| Governor's Climate Action Team |
The primary purpose of the 2008 Climate Action Team work will be to transform the comprehensive recommendations developed in 2007 into a small number of focused, refined, and effective set of actions that Governor Gregoire and the Washington Legislature can implement in order to take the critical next steps to address climate change. |
| Energy Efficiency and Green Building Implementation Working Group |
The goal of the Energy Efficiency and Green Buildings IWG is to identify actions that can result in significant emission reductions in Washington’s built environment, both directly through reduced use of fossil fuel based energy as well as indirectly by reducing the use of greenhouse gas-intensive products. |
| An Overview of the State Environmental Policy Act |
SEPA 101 Overview, PDF of PowerPoint |
| SEPA Implementation Working Group |
The goal of the SEPA IWG is to develop recommendations to ensure that consideration of climate change is included in the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). |
| Western Climate Initiative |
The Western Climate Initiative is a collaboration which was launched in February 2007 by the Governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington to develop regional strategies to address climate change. WCI is identifying, evaluating and implementing collective and cooperative ways to reduce greenhouse gases in the region. In particular, the WCI released a draft design for a regional cap and trade system on July 23, 2008. |
back to top
Seattle Climate Action Plan
| Seattle Climate Action Plan homepage |
Seattle’s Climate Action Plan is a robust call to action for the entire community. A “greenprint” for a climate-friendly Seattle, the plan calls for new climate protection investments, the formation of diverse and strategic partnerships and action from businesses, government and citizens. |
| Mayor's Green Ribbon Commission on Climate Protection |
To meet the Kyoto goal locally and to provide a “green-print” for others to use elsewhere, the Mayor appointed the Green Ribbon Commission on Climate Protection. The Commission — which includes 18 leaders from Seattle 's business, labor, non-profit, government and academic communities — was specifically charged with developing local solutions to global climate disruption and beginning development of a Climate Action Plan. |
| Green Ribbon Commission Report and Recommendations |
Executive Summary, Full Report and Recommendations, Technical Appendix |
| Seattle’s Community Carbon Footprint: an Update |
City of Seattle Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory Summary Report |
| 2005 Inventory of Seattle Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Community & Corporate |
City of Seattle Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory Full Report |
| Seattle Climate Action Plan |
The Seattle Climate Action Plan implements the 18 recommendations that the Green Ribbon Commission delivered in March, 2006. Its purpose is to provide common-sense steps that people, businesses and the City can take to make a real difference in the battle against climate change. |
| Climate Action Plan Progress Report |
Published October 2007, this report provides an overview of key strategies and highlights some significant accomplishments of its Climate Action Plan, a comprehensive roadmap released by Mayor Nickels in 2006. |
| Seattle Climate Action Now |
Seattle Climate Action Now is an exciting effort to give everyone in Seattle the tools needed to start making a real difference at home, at work, and on the road. It will bring you together with people across the street and across town to take action to protect the climate for all of us and for future generations. |
| Seattle Climate Partnership |
A voluntary commitment among Seattle-area employers to take action to reduce their own emissions, and to work together to help meet the community-wide goal. City supports the partnership by developing tools and resources to enable partners to meet their goals. |
back to top
US Conference of Mayors
| US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement Homepage |
On February 16, 2005 the Kyoto Protocol, the international agreement to address climate disruption, became law for the 141 countries that have ratified it to date. On that day, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels launched the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to advance the goals of the Kyoto Protocol through leadership and action. To date, 850 cities have signed on to meet this ambitious target. |
| US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement |
The Mayors agreement, as endorsed by the 73rd Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting, Chicago, 2005. |
| US Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Center |
Launched on February 20, 2007 in recognition of an increasingly urgent need to provide mayors with the guidance and assistance they need to lead their cities’ efforts to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are linked to climate change. |
| USCM Resolution Endorsing the US Mayors Federal Climate Policy Framework |
Resolution establishing need for a strong federal regulatory and policy framework, substantial research and development on climate-friendly technologies, and funding for cities striving both to reduce emissions and to manage the impacts of climate disruption on our infrastructure and communities. |
| USCM Resolution on City Priorities for Cap and Trade System |
Resolution adopted at the June 2008 meeting of the USCM establishing city priorities in a federal cap and trade design. |
back to top |
