April 2022
Our climate action plan will be the blueprint to support a vibrant economy, improved health, protected lands, and a safe and thriving community for generations to come.
Climate action plan update

This spring we will be seeking feedback from people throughout the county on the initial climate action targets developed by our Community and Youth Advisory Task Forces through a staff and consultant-led process. The results will help us understand the priorities and needs of our community so we can develop a Climate Action Plan (CAP) that can be implemented successfully.

We plan to issue a survey later this month that will be available over the next couple of months. This will be complemented with social media, community presentations, discussion groups, print materials and video.
 
A second round of Community Advisory Task Force meetings will be scheduled in late summer/early fall learn about the feedback from the public, receive additional modeling information from our consultants and help finalize the draft climate action plan. The public will be invited to comment on that draft plan this fall or winter before it is presented to the Board of County Commissioners for action.
"By 2023, a Climate Action Plan is adopted for our community with specific recommendations to reach the goal of being carbon neutral by 2050." 
- Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, March 2021
Provide feedback to help Clackamas County better prepare for wildfires

As the county works to update the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, we are seeking input from property owners to help us develop strategies to reduce the risks posed by wildfire, improve coordination between agencies, and inform actions in response to wildfires.

The survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. You will be entered for a chance to win one of two $25 gift cards for participating. Take the survey by May 13.
Visualize our changing climate through data

Climate science involves a lot of data, and sometimes that data is beautiful. See the two examples below for different ways to plot the global rise in temperature. Both of these visuals – the climate spiral video and the stripes – were created by Professor Ed Hawkins from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Reading in England. The data sets to show the same trend in different ways.
This "climate spiral" shows monthly changes from the average in global temperature from 1880-2021. Whites and blues indicate cooler temperatures, while oranges and reds show warmer temperatures.
This graphic illustrates the change in temperature within the U.S. from 1850-2021.

Each stripe represents the temperature average in each year.

You can change data settings for different areas of our Earth. Check out www.showyourstripes.info.
Help us hear from the whole community

We want to welcome people, organizations and businesses from throughout Clackamas County to help achieve the countywide goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. This newsletter is one way to share opportunities for community members to be engaged. If you know of folks - students, neighbors, colleagues, supervisors, electeds - who would be interested in learning about and perhaps contributing to this plan, please share this newsletter and encourage them to sign up.

We also want to know what kind of information you would like in this newsletter and on the project webpage. Send suggestions to climate@clackamas.us.

Thank you for being on this journey with us!
Sign up to receive future e-newsletters and opportunities to engage in the climate action plan development process!