Status: A complete inventory of all GHG emissions for King County Operations in 2006 is underway, and when complete, should indicate overall progress when compared to the previously completed 2003 inventory. In the meantime, looking at emissions reported to and audited by the Chicago Climate Exchange, which includes all direct emissions from gasoline, diesel, natural gas, heating oil and steam, should serve as reliable performance measure for much of King County's emissions. For 2000, King County reported 174,265 MTCO2e to CCX; for 2007, although data collection is not complete, analysis shows that emissions are very likely to be more than 1.5% below this 2000 baseline. In addition to significant efficiency gains, much of this expected decrease can be attributed to the county's aggressive use of biofuels, especially biodiesel use by the Department of Transportation. (Color equals green)

For the Department of Natural Resources and Parks in 2000 ~30,000 MTCO2e of emissions were reported to CCX. Most of this is attributed to diesel consumption by the Wastewater Treatment and Solid Waste Divisions. Complete data to estimate 2007 emissions is currently being collected. (Color equals grey)

For an analysis of the region's performance status to reach the overall reduction goal of 80% below 2007 levels by 2050, see the Atmosphere section of KingStat's Environmental Indicators. (Color equals yellow)

Existing Response (2007 Update)

County Operations:

• Completion of the county's operational year 2000 baseline inventory for the Chicago Climate Exchange, in which it was the first county and bus transit agency member
• Addition of greenhouse gas emissions to the environmental review of projects undergoing review mandated by SEPA, including the county's own developments
• Extensive promotion of public transit use, through such programs as InMotion and Partners in Transit and single events such as Earth Day
• Development of tools in the Healthscape program to measure the benefits of non-motorized transportation projects, such as avoided greenhouse gas emissions, walkability and increased public health
• Collaboration with regional, state and federal government entities on such coordinated strategies as greenhouse gas emissions modeling of major transportation projects and tolling
• Active role on Washington State Climate Advisory Team and staff participation in the Transportation Working Group and development of associated recommendations
• Production of the draft 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update, which includes text and policies that support climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Update of the county's Green Building Ordinance and progress on county projects that employed the highest standards of green building
• Enhancements to the Puget Sound Fresh program, such as the addition of the "Eat Local Thanksgiving" initiative, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the freight transportation of non-local food
• Announcement by King County Department of Transportation of a landmark contract with an option to purchase 500 additional hybrid buses, to complement the county's existing hybrid fleet of 213
• Addition of plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles and a cutting-edge heavy-duty hybrid truck into King County's fleet
• Hosting of the "Clean Vehicles Now!" conference, which emphasized the importance of investing in clean vehicle fleets and raised awareness about the clean technologies and fuels available today
• Use of B20 (20 percent blended biofuel) across all appropriate vehicles in the county's fleet
• Establishment by King County Metro Transit of a first-of-its-kind agreement to purchase 2 million gallons of biofuel for use in buses, to be made from canola grown on farms in Yakima County, Washington, which has been fertilized with biosolids from King County's wastewater treatment operations
• Approval of a contract for conversion of methane from the King County Solid Waste Division landfill to usable energy

Adaptation

• Collaboration with the University of Washington on development of reasonable assumptions about climate change impacts for departments and divisions responsible for long-term infrastructure planning
• Publication of Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional and State Governments, which is being used to guide and standardize the process of planning for climate change impacts across departments and divisions
• Creation and adoption of the King County Flood Control Zone District, consistent with the King County Flood Hazard Management Plan, to rebuild the regional levee system and consequently protect public health, safety and property from more intense and frequent winter floods that the region is projected to experience in the future
• Participation in regional dialogue about how to prepare for intense storm events
• Research on issues of how climate change will affect already disadvantaged communities in the region
• Active staff participation in the Washington Climate Advisory Team's Preparedness and Adaptation Working Group, especially in the areas of public health and water supply planning, and development of associated recommendations
• Co-sponsorship with the State of Washington on a reclaimed water conference, completion of a reclaimed water feasibility study, and initiation of a Reclaimed Water Comprehensive Plan
• Support of the Puget Sound Partnership, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the international Pacific Salmon Commission on consideration of the impacts of climate change to regional water supply, and continued participation in the Regional Water Supply Planning Process
• Incorporation of climate change impacts and preparedness considerations into the 2008 public review draft of the King County Comprehensive Plan

Community-wide emissions: For existing response to reduce King County's regional GHG emissions, please see the Atmosphere section of KingStat's Environmental Indicators.

Priority New Actions for 2008

County Operations:

• Refinement of the county's greenhouse gas emissions inventories and SEPA emissions worksheet, as well as continued development of proposed mitigation thresholds for SEPA-reviewed projects
• Launch of a "Green Your Commute" initiative for employees, to increase workplace efficiencies and develop new arrangements in support of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from employee transportation
• Continued collaboration with other governments, universities and the private sector on issues such as greenhouse gas emissions modeling for regional projects, reduction of vehicle miles traveled, encouragement of electrified transportation, broader establishment of fueling infrastructure for clean vehicles, continued development of a regional market for clean vehicles, and improved evaluation of landfill sequestration of greenhouse gas emissions
• Continued work on ways to develop "green collar" jobs in King County government that help meet the county's climate change policy goals
• Development with the Puget Sound Regional Green Fleet Initiative of a "green fleet standard" intended to help guide clean vehicle purchases by municipal governments
• Continued contribution by King County technical and scientific experts to local, regional and state analysis of climate change
• Further institutionalization of climate change mitigation and adaptation planning across county departments, through the Climate Team and its workgroups

Community-wide emissions: For priority new actions to reduce King County's regional GHG emissions, please see the Atmosphere section of KingStat's Environmental Indicators.

Back to top