Drafter
Clerk 08/01/2017
title
A MOTION affirming King County's commitment to advance the Paris Climate Agreement and to collaborate with other governments, businesses and community groups to achieve climate change goals.
body
WHEREAS, On June 1, 2017, the President of the United States announced that the President would formally withdraw the country from the Paris Climate Agreement, and
WHEREAS, the Paris Climate Agreement is an international agreement to prevent the most severe impacts of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global temperature rise to well below two degrees Celsius and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to even further to one and five-tenths degrees Celsius, and
WHEREAS, although only national governments can sign onto the Paris Climate Agreement, subnational governments may publicly declare their commitments to climate action, and
WHEREAS, climate change is one of the paramount challenges of our generation and will have near and long-term consequences for the economy, the environment and public health and safety in King County, and
WHEREAS, King County is already experiencing the impacts of a changing climate: warming temperatures; acidifying marine waters; rising sea levels; increasing flooding risk; more-frequent heat events that impact health; decreasing mountain snowpack; and less water in the summer, and
WHEREAS, impacts of a changing climate will not affect all King County residents in the same way. Experiences will vary based on income, health, age and place of residence. Climate change impacts can magnify existing health issues and limited access to resources that are already experienced disproportionally by communities of color, and
WHEREAS, local governments play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through their land use and transportation policy choices, building codes and investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean vehicles, and
WHEREAS, loc...

Click here for full text