Matt Kuharic

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Introduction to King County Climate
SolutionsPart 2 of 2 (part 1 is science)King
County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

• Matt Kuharic
• Senior Climate Change Specialist
• http//www.kingcounty.gov/climate
• climatechange_at_kingcounty.gov
• [phone]

Draft of 2/7/2011
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Message from the Executive
Climate change is already affecting our community
and will have increasing impacts in the coming
years. This website reflects my strong commitment
to making county actions, investments, and
performance more transparent and accessible to
the public Dow Constantine, King County Executive
See the Executives Complete Message http//www.k
ingcounty.gov/environment/climate/executive-messag
e.aspx
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Key Policies and Targets

• King County Comprehensive Plan
• Collaborate to reduce regional climate pollution
  by at least 80 below 2007 levels by 2050
• King County Strategic Plan
• Reduce climate pollution and prepare for the
  effects of climate change on the environment,
  human health, and the economy
• Numerous specific efforts and policies on
• Green building and sustainable development, flood
  protection, electric vehicles, energy efficiency
  and renewable energy...

Overview of King County Climate Change Policy
http//www.kingcounty.gov/environment/climate/kin
g-county/climate-change-policy.aspx
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Why is the County Taking Action?
New Revenue Sources
National Security
Risk Management
The Climate Imperative
Equity and Social Justice
Public Health
Puget Sound Protection
New Jobs
Leadership
Reducing Energy Costs
Economic Development
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King County Climate Solutions Highlights

• 2000
• First greenhouse gas emissions inventory
• 2005
• The Future Aint What it Used To Be climate
  conference
• 2006
• Joined the Chicago Climate Exchange
• 2007
• Developed a King County Climate Plan an Energy
  Plan
• Co-authored with UW the Climate Adaptation
  Guidebook
• Flood Control District created
• 2008
• Updated Green Building and Sustainable
  Development Policy
• Transit Now! Evergreen Fleet Initiative
• 2009
• Completion of the Cedar Hills Landfill renewable
  project
• 2010
• Implementation of 6 million to support electric
  vehicles
• 2010 King County Energy Plan
• Focus on integrating climate lens into all
  decision making

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Leadership Mitigation Adaptation Assessment
See www.kingcounty.gov/climate for the latest
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Leadership
COLLABORATION
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
ADVOCACY
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Mitigation
CLEAN MOBILITY
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Mitigation
WASTE TO RESOURCES AND ENERGY
ENERGY AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
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Solid Waste Division Efforts
Shoreline Transfer Station LEED Platinum
Cedar Hills Regional Landfill Renewable Energy
Cedar Hills Regional Landfill Renewable Energy
Facility
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Adaptation
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Flood Planning and Control
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
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Assessment
OPERATIONAL GOALS
KingStat Climate Performance Measures http//your
.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/measures/indicators/atmospher
e.aspx
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Assessment
COMMUNITY GOALS
DRAFT DATA NOT TO SCALE for illustrative
purposes
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What you can do!
1) Bus, Bike or Walk instead of driving.
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http//www.kingcounty.gov/environment/climate/indi
vidual.aspx
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What you can do!
2) Be energy efficient.
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http//www.kingcounty.gov/environment/stewardship/
sustainable-building.aspx
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What you can do!
3) Become an ecoconsumer.
http//your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/ecoconsumer/
index.asp
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What you can do!
4) Seek zero waste of resources - reduce, reuse,
recycle, compost.
http//your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/climate/what
-can-you-do.asp
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What you can do!
5) Learn more and stay connected.
http//www.kingcounty.gov/climate
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