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Summary
King County continues progress toward meeting greenhouse gas reduction goals and partnering with local governments and community-based organizations to address the climate crisis.
Story
Last week King County published a progress report on its 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan, a five-year blueprint for county climate action, highlighting advancements made towards emission reduction goals and achievements across county departments to address the climate crisis.
The report gives an update on King County’s progress in effectively advancing climate action to reduce emissions, leading on climate equity, and preparing for the impacts of climate change.
“Defeating the climate crisis demands we rethink everything — across government, business, and our daily lives,” said Executive Constantine. “We are steadfast in fighting this existential threat.”
Some 2021–2023 successes highlighted in the report include:
- King County lowered its own governmental greenhouse gas emissions by 30% from 2007 to 2022, countywide per person emissions are down 7%, but overall countywide emissions have increased.
- King County and its 39 cities strengthened shared greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets to 50% below 2007 levels by 2030, 75% below 2007 levels by 2040, and 95% below 2007 levels and net carbon neutral by 2050.
- King County is leading regional actions to achieve 2030 and 2050 greenhouse gas targets with the passage of strong energy codes for commercial buildings, investments in community-led projects that reduce emissions, reimagining waste management through Re+, and expanding affordable housing with transit-oriented development.
- King County is leading decarbonization of government operations by electrifying one of the nation’s largest bus fleets, developing technical specifications for using low embodied carbon concrete, scaling up restoration of county-owned forest and natural areas, and strengthening green building standards for county capital projects.
- King County staff are working to partner with frontline communities in ways that address the root causes and the symptoms of racial and social inequities.
- The Green Jobs Strategy, finalized in early 2023, is well underway and has been recognized as a model for other municipalities across the country.
- King County completed the country’s first Wildfire Risk Reduction Strategy in 2023 and initiated the development of a countywide Extreme Heat Mitigation Strategy (due in 2024) to prepare for the impacts of climate change.
An Expanded Executive Climate Office
The report comes as Executive Constantine recently expanded the newly created Executive Climate Office.
Led by Director Marissa Aho, the office includes new staff joining from King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks, as well as staff who joined in 2023 from King County Metro and the Department of Local Services. The expanded office will catalyze and unify King County’s climate work.
“I’m thrilled to have these talented colleagues join our team,” said Director Aho. “Working alongside partners and communities, King County’s Executive Climate Office is expanding and accelerating the delivery of the Strategic Climate Action Plan’s goals and priority actions and is leading the way on climate equity, green jobs, climate preparedness, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Joining from the Department of Natural Resources and Parks:
- Lara Whitely Binder, climate preparedness program manager
- Vicky Raya, climate equity program manager
- Michael Carter, climate and workforce development program manager
- Anoushka Adhav, climate and workforce project manager
- Samara Almonte, climate equity and community partnerships program coordinator
- Daaniya Iyaz, Heat Mitigation strategy specialist
- S. Neil Larsen, FUSE fellow
The Executive Climate Office also hired the following people in 2023:
- Nicole Sanders, building decarbonization program manager. Previously served as green building principal planner at King County Local Services.
- Ross Freeman, electric vehicle planner. Previously served as sustainability manager for the City of Mercer Island.
- Carrie Lee, greenhouse gas program manager. Previously served as sustainability and climate program manager at King County Metro.
Terry Sullivan, who joined the Executive Climate Office in 2022, remains the climate and energy program manager. Marissa Aho has served as director since July 2023.
Executive Constantine established the office in his 2023-2024 budget to elevate the county’s commitment, coordination, and ability to deliver on climate action.
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