Drafter
Clerk 02/23/2012
title
A MOTION relating to county efforts to reduce climate pollution and prepare for the effects of climate change on the environment, human health and the economy and to minimize King County's operational environmental footprint, and rescinding Motion 12362.
body
WHEREAS, there is consensus among the world's leading scientists, including the National Academies and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, that human sources of climate pollution such as carbon dioxide and methane are causing unprecedented and severe changes in global and local climate systems, and the related impacts are among the most significant environmental challenges facing the world, and
WHEREAS, climate scientists at the University of Washington report that significant changes to the Pacific Northwest climate are causing environmental changes including decreasing mountain snowpack and increasing flooding, and are negatively impacting infrastructure, forests, salmon, human health and the Puget Sound, and
WHEREAS, King County's diversity of natural habitats and species, known as biodiversity, helps to support pollination of crops, flood and erosion control, fisheries and recreation, and
WHEREAS, climate change is causing increased stress and changes in distribution of plant and animal species due to vegetation range shifts, streamflow changes, invasive species invasions and increased freshwater and marine water temperatures, and
WHEREAS, left unaddressed, human induced changes to the climate system will severely impact economic prosperity and quality of life in King County and elsewhere, and
WHEREAS, buildings account for thirty-five percent of greenhouse gas emissions that occur in King County, and
WHEREAS, transportation accounts for forty-eight percent of greenhouse gas emissions that occur in King County, and
WHEREAS, King County citizens, businesses, and governments also share responsibility for the greenhouse gas emissions associated with goo...

Click here for full text