Mayor Murray, along with community supporters, signing the Equity & Environment Resolution
Hello Friends and Partners...
Welcome to fall! As our days are getting shorter, they often feel like they are also getting busier. Here at OSE, we're excited to be moving full steam ahead on critical climate initiatives including work on building energy, transportation, equity, and resilience planning. As always, please get in touch if you have thoughts on our work or ways we can collaborate.
Jessica Finn Coven, Director
Office of Sustainability & Environment
KEY SUSTAINBILITY UPDATES
Seattle's Core GHG Emissions Decline 6%
On September 7, the Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment released the 2014 Seattle Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory. The recent report showed a 6% decline in emissions during the same time period as Seattle's population and economy grew. The decline is certainly positive, but the report also highlights the need to pick up the pace of our emissions reductions. Seattle's climate goals--as identified in the 2013 Seattle Climate Action Plan--are to reduce emissions 58% by 2030 and ultimately become a carbon neutral city by 2050. A quick overview of the findings is here.
Meetin
g on Building Tune-Up Director's Rule
In Seattle's ongoing commitment to foster energy efficiency, the City passed a Building Tune-Ups ordinance earlier this year. The ordinance phases in a periodic tune-up requirement for commercial buildings 50,000 square feet or larger, beginning in 2018. OSE staff are developing a Director's Rule that will further detail compliance specifications. OSE is hosting a public meeting to seek input for the Director's Rule on Tuesday, September 13th, 8:30-10 am at the Smart Buildings Center, 1200 12th Avenue S.More info here.
Mayor Signs Equity & Environment Resolution
On August 16 Mayor Murray signed the
Equity & Environment Resolution - unanimously passed by City Council - that established the shared city and community goals and strategies of the
Equity & Environment Agenda and providing a foundation for all environment and sustainability work in Seattle. The resolution signals to City staff and the community that our commitment to racial and environmental justice is significant and that community will be leaders in developing solutions.
Council Considers Drive Clean Resolution
On Wednesday, September 14 at 2 pm, the Sustainability & Transportation Committee will hold a special committee meeting to discuss
a resolution that expresses the need to accelerate Seattle's transportation sector away from oil and to increase the use of our carbon neutral electricity for transportation. The resolution will also adopt a goal to cut our oil use in transportation in half by 2035; formally endorses the Mayor's
Drive Clean Seattle initiative and sets a goal that 30 percent of vehicles in the city will be electric by 2030. If you are interested in learning more about our work on electrifying our transportation sector, please contact
Chris Bast.
The Office of Sustainability & Environment collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders to develop innovative environmental solutions that foster equitable, vibrant communities and shared prosperity.
