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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Mayor Launches Effort to Cut Seattle's Greenhouse Gas Emissions
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
9/27/2006 11:00:00 AM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Nicholas (206) 615-0829
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
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Mayor Launches Effort to Cut Seattle’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Residents, businesses and government called upon to meet Kyoto challenge
SEATTLE—Mayor Greg Nickels today announced his Seattle Climate Action
Plan, the cornerstone of the effort to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas
emissions by 680,000 metric tons and meet the 2012 international goals of the
Kyoto Protocol right here at home.
The plan is the most comprehensive climate-protection package in the city’s
history. It calls for major new investments and expanded programs to support
individuals, government and businesses in curbing the threat of climate disruption
by reducing harmful emissions across the entire city.
“Climate change is the biggest environmental threat facing our planet,” Nickels
said. “With the release of the Seattle Climate Action Plan, we start
down a hopeful – but challenging – road toward a solution.”
The comprehensive program, to be monitored and updated every two years, is
the city’s response to last spring’s recommendations by the mayor’s
Green Ribbon Commission on Climate Protection. It details a series of specific
steps that residents, business and the city will take to reach the Kyoto target
of 7 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2012. The bulk of the effort relies
on reducing emissions from motor-fuel, natural gas and other sources at home,
on the road, at work and in the community.
“When it comes to climate change, we are all part of the problem – and
part of the solution,” Nickels said “Together, we can make Seattle
the most climate-friendly city in the country.”
The plan builds on a strong environmental foundation in Seattle. City government
has already cut its emissions by 60 percent from 1990 levels and operates the
only electric utility in the nation, Seattle City Light, to achieve zero net
greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, this marks the second year in a row Seattle
City Light has achieved zero net greenhouse gas emissions.
To date, 307 mayors from 46 states and the District of Columbia have signed
on to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement initiated by Mayor Nickels,
meaning cities where 51 million Americans live stand with Seattle in the commitment
to meet the Kyoto target.
The mayor’s 2007-2008 proposed budget calls for a $37 million investment
over the next two years to reduce emissions. Thirty-four million dollars of
this is part of the Bridging the Gap proposal, which includes a levy
lid lift that will be decided by voters in November.
Bridging the Gap contains funding for:
- Substantial bicycle and pedestrian improvements, including new and extended
bikeways, sidewalks and trails, and safety upgrades to crosswalks citywide.
- Increased public transportation service, including funding that leverages
a two-for-one match from King County Metro’s Transit Now package.
- Investments in freight mobility that will reduce emissions by easing congestion
for trucks.
- Renovation of King Street Station as a multi-modal transportation hub.
The mayor’s General Fund budget contains funding for:
- A broad awareness and education campaign, to be waged with partner agencies,
to educate the community on the link between fossil-fuel consumption and
climate change and to inspire action.
- A new Neighborhood Climate Protection Matching Fund to spur community-based
climate protection projects, such as local biodiesel cooperatives and car-
and tool-sharing programs.
- Covering two outdoor public swimming pools to conserve natural gas used
for heating.
Nickels also announced the launch of the Seattle Climate Partnership, a group
of influential businesses and organizations that have agreed to work together
to assess their climate impacts and cut emissions in their operations, through
employees, with customers and suppliers. Among the 21 early-stage members are
Starbucks Coffee Co., Lafarge North America, Port of Seattle, University of
Washington, REI Inc., Group Health Cooperative, HomeStreet Bank, King County, Seattle University and the City of Seattle.
Joining Mayor Nickels at Wednesday’s announcement were William Ruckelshaus,
former EPA chief and strategic director of the Madrona Venture Group; Sally
Jewell, chief executive of REI; Denis Hayes, founder of Earth Day and president
of the Bullitt Foundation; and Mayor Dan Coody of Fayetteville, Ark. Ruckelshaus
was a member of the Green Ribbon Commission. Hayes was the commission’s
co-chair.
For more information, visit the mayor’s web site at www.seattle.gov/mayor.
Get the mayor’s inside view on initiatives to promote transportation,
public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for
The Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm.
Read a summery
of the plan - Acrobat PDF 870 kb
Learn what you can do to help - Acrobat PDF 430 kb
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Office of the Mayor
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