What is the City of Seattle’s role in Climate Protection?

Global warming poses the single largest environmental threat with consequences for economies and communities throughout the world.  While continuing to press for national leadership to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the City of Seattle has chosen to take actions now, believing that actions by local governments and its citizens and businesses can make a difference. 

Some may view climate change as a remote global problem that is beyond the capacity – and responsibility – of local governments to solve.  But when we consider what makes our region so unique and naturally abundant, we realize that global climate change is in fact a profoundly local issue – both cause and effect.  It’s here at home, especially in our cities, where we drive the cars and use the power that generates global warming pollution.  It’s our choices as communities and individuals about energy supply and use, transportation, solid waste, and land use that determine the future trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions.

Inspiring Others to Act

On February 16, 2005, coinciding with the effective date of the Kyoto Protocol, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels launched the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (MCPA) with the vision of driving national policy through local government leadership. As of Septebmer 19, 2007, 672 mayors across the country have signed the Agreement, representing roughly 73 million Americans from all 50 states.

This unprecedented “movement of mayors” has inspired action by other institutions and organizations across the country, including the Sierra Club’s Cool Cities campaign, the American University and College Presidents’ Climate Commitment, and the recently announced “Cool Counties” initiative (led by Fairfax County , VA ).

In addition, US mayors now are participating more than ever before in the federal climate protection policy-making process. Mayor Nickels launched the 2007 Mayors’ Climate Protection Campaign in January 2007, including visits by mayors to both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. Mayor Nickels also participated in a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing with other state and local elected officials to inform the new federal push for climate policy legislation.

Now the US Conference of Mayors has established a new Climate Protection Center to grow and strengthen the US Mayors Climate Agreement program and network. Specifically, this new center will recruit additional participants, improve technical assistance to participating cities, develop a tracking and reporting system, and increase mayors’ participation in federal policy-making.

Planning for the Future

In 2005, Mayor Nickels appointed the Green Ribbon Commission on Climate Protection, a group of 18 leaders from Seattle’s business, labor, non-profit, government and academic communities, to recommend ways to reduce Seattle’s carbon footprint. The Green Ribbon Commission’s recommendations were translated into the Seattle Climate Action Plan, released by the Mayor in September 2006. The Mayor and City Council demonstrated their commitment to implementation of the Plan by dedicating $41 million in new investments for 2007 and 2008, including $38 million from a voter-approved transportation funding package.

Reducing the Community’s “Carbon Footprint”

The main focus of the Seattle Climate Action Plan is to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least seven percent below 1990 levels by 2012. Many elements of the Climate Action Plan already have been implemented or initiated, including enactment of a commercial parking tax and adoption of new land use regulations for downtown Seattle and neighborhood business districts that promote the creation of compact, livable, climate-friendly urban communities. Other highlights:

• Partnering with over 70 community organizations and businesses, the Mayor launched Seattle Climate Action Now in September 2007, a community-wide campaign to inspire Seattle residents to take actions that will help reduce carbon emissions.
• The Department of Planning and Development has implemented a number of “smart growth” initiatives to promote mixed-use developments and affordable housing; green building and green site development; and bike- and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. One recent example: the adoption of regulatory changes to remove the minimum requirement for parking spaces in new developments.
• The City is leading or supporting significant increases in public transportation in Seattle, including increases in local bus service, completion of the first leg of a light rail line, and completion of a streetcar line connecting downtown Seattle to one of its fastest-growing neighborhoods: South Lake Union.
• In addition, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) recently completed Seattle’s first-ever Bike Master Plan, which guides future improvements to Seattle’s bicycle network over the next 10 years, including 200 miles of new bike lanes and plans for extending and improving trail networks. A Pedestrian Master Plan is scheduled for completion by the end of 2008.
• Seattle City Lights’ conservation program reaches out to residents and local businesses to improve energy efficiency and conservation through on-the-ground projects. Reductions of about 415,277 tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide in 2005 equate to over 81,000 passenger cars not driven or household energy use for over 48,000 families in the Seattle area.
• Seattle residents set a new record for recycling in 2005: 52.1 percent of residential garbage was diverted from regional landfills.
• Thanks to some highly successful conservation programs, Seattle uses the same amount of water that we did in 1975, though 400,000 more people use the system.
• The Neighborhood Climate Protection Fund, launched by the Department of Neighborhoods in early 2007, provides funds to neighborhood groups or organizations to develop local solutions to reduce global warming pollution.
• We initiated the Seattle Climate Partnership -- a voluntary pact among Seattle-area employers to assess and reduce their own carbon footprints -- in late 2006. Besides the City of Seattle, founding members include Group Health, the Port of Seattle, REI, the University of Washington, Starbucks, Lafarge, and King County. The Partnership includes over 50 members so far; the goal is at least 100 by the end of 2007, and 200 by the end of 2008. We’ve developed strong technical assistance and recognition programs for participating institutions.
• The Urban Forest Management Plan unveiled in 2006 calls for Seattle to plant 649,000 trees over 30 years – increasing canopy cover from 18% to 30%.

 Reducing the City Government’s “Carbon Footprint”

Seattle City government has reduced its global warming pollution by about 60% compared to 1990 levels. Highlights include the following:

• In 2005, Seattle City Light became the first large electric utility in the country to achieve “zero net emissions” of global warming pollution through conservation programs, energy efficiency solutions, and offsets.
• In 2000, Seattle was the first city in the US to formally adopt a sustainable building policy, setting a target for a LEED Silver rating for all new construction. This visionary policy has led to the certification of nine city-owned facilities at or above the LEED silver rating, with three more buildings pending certification, and five LEED projects in the construction phase.
• In 2003, the City adopted a Clean and Green Fleet plan (new 2007 plan just released), setting a goal of using the cleanest fuels and most fuel-efficient vehicles available. As a result, the City reduced fleet use of fossil fuels by 12% compared to 1999 levels, and increased use of biodiesel in the City fleet by 4.5 times since 2003. By the end of 2007, all of the City’s diesel tanks will be filled with B20 or B40. In addition, since 2003, 78% of the City’s new light-duty vehicle purchases have been hybrid or biodiesel vehicles.
• PaperCuts is the City’s successful campaign to save paper. In 2006, we cut the City’s paper consumption by 21 percent – enough paper to make a stack higher than seven Space Needles – and avoiding 125.4 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

"The reality of global climate change is urgent. The stakes are high - locally and globally - and we need to act. As a City government, we've already cut our greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60% compared to 1990 levels. But it's not enough - we need to work together as a community to set responsible limits on global warming pollution." Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels

What Others Are Saying About Seattle

Other Cities | Environmental Leaders | Business Leaders | Other Community Leaders

Other Cities

"I certainly commend Seattle and Mayor Nickels for taking on this issue…I'm appalled by the refusal of our federal government even to acknowledge global warming and climate disruption as a problem. We can't wait for this vacuum of leadership to fill. Since 1997, Burlington has joined cities across the country in working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the reduction goals of the Kyoto Protocol."
- Mayor Peter Clavelle, City of Burlington , VT

" Minneapolis achieved the pollution reduction necessary to meet the Kyoto Protocol, one of the first cities in the nation to do so - a strategy that has earned our City tremendous environmental and economic benefits. Climate disruption is a global problem but we feel the effects locally. We are thrilled with Seattle and Mayor Greg Nickels' initiative and will work hard with our colleagues at the June U.S. Conference of Mayors to challenge our nation through our example."
-- Mayor R.T. Rybak, City of Minneapolis, MN

"I congratulate Seattle and Mayor Nickels on this leadership committee to address global warming. Portland was the first city in the country to adopt a local global warming policy reducing greenhouse gas emissions that exceed the targets established by the Kyoto Protocol. We are proud that the people of Seattle share our vision for turning the crisis of global warming into an opportunity to transform our economy and leave a healthier planet for our children and grandchildren."
-- Mayor Tom Potter, Portland , OR

"We congratulate Seattle on its bold programs and look forward to cooperating to build a better world…The City of Oakland has set a goal of 15% reduction by 2010, which is beyond what Kyoto calls for the US to achieve. We are looking at 70% reduction of GHGs by 2050, which is what many scientists believe is needed to protect our future. We are in support of the United States surpassing the Kyoto green house gas reduction targets."
-- Mayor Jerry Brown, City of Oakland , CA

"We welcome the opportunity to join in this effort initiated by Seattle, a city Boulder has looked to over the years as a role model of environmental leadership and innovation. Boulder adopted the Kyoto Protocol goals in 2002, and we look forward to working with Seattle and other cities across the country in showing that as local governments we can make real progress on climate change while improving our economy and quality of life."
-- Mayor Mark Ruzzin, City of Boulder, CO

"The City of Santa Monica applauds the good work you and the City of Seattle are doing to combat climate disruption and we pledge to work together with you to raise awareness and inspire action by local governments throughout the United States on the issue. We look forward to working together on this important endeavor."
-- Mayor Pam O'Connor, City of Santa Monica , CA

"We agree global climate disruption is a serious threat to our local economy and quality of life. Cities need to lead the way. We join Mayor Nickels and the City of Seattle in taking and promoting more local action, in our region and across the country, to reduce global warming pollution."
-- Mayor Rosemarie Ives, City of Redmond , WA

"Increasingly, cities are providing the answers to some of America's toughest problems. So it's fitting that we're leading the way on global warming as well."
-- Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, Madison , WI

"In Salt Lake City we have been working diligently since 2002 to meet the greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal set forth in the Kyoto Protocol. To date, through innovative and effective measures, we have reduced our emissions by 20,227 tons and are 71% of the way toward meeting our Kyoto goal in our municipal operations. If every local and state government entity, every business, and every individual takes available, effective measures to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we can reverse the trend toward global warming. If we do not, the consequences will be devastating."
-- Mayor Rocky Anderson , City of Salt Lake City , UT

Environmental Leaders

"It's now clear that the effort to stop global warming in the United States will be led by the cities and states -- not the federal government. No other city is currently doing more than Seattle, and I'm delighted that Mayor Nickels plans to keep Seattle in the vanguard on this awesome issue."
Denis Hayes, Bullitt Foundation, February 2005

"The Sierra Club commends Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels for leadership on climate change, and his support for clean cars and buses...In the face of climate change, President Bush and his administration are not merely silent, they are dangerously irresponsible, rejecting the needs of Americans, and international calls for cooperation. Thank goodness for cities like Seattle. By operating more cleanly and efficiently, Seattle will grow stronger economically, and enhance its reputation as a wonderful place to live. Seattle is showing the way, and its leaders deserve credit.
Carl Pope, Executive Director, Sierra Club

By this action Seattle joins the ranks of Fortune 500 CEOs and governments worldwide who are tackling global warming. It's good for business, good for the community and good for the world"
Steve Howard, CEO, The Climate Group, International NGO, headquartered in London

"Global" climate disruption is a local issue. We feel the impacts locally, we cause the problem locally, and now Seattle is taking it to the next level in demonstrating how we can pioneer solutions locally. Best of all, they're showing how climate solutions help us build a healthier, more prosperous community. It's all about leadership.
KC Golden, Policy Director, Climate Solutions

Business Leaders

"Starbucks applauds the City of Seattle's bold climate protection efforts and shares in the belief that this is a critical global issue that necessitates leadership action from all sectors in our community."
Orin Smith, President & CEO, Starbucks

Other Community Leaders

"Mayor Nickels and the City of Seattle are doing absolutely the right thing to help curb global warming and protect our region's economic vitality. The actions they are announcing today put them in a significant leadership role and help send the message to Washington, D.C. that we, along with many other cities, counties and states around the country, are serious about the issue."
Dennis McLerran, Executive Director, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency