Atmosphere

How is King County doing?

Greenhouse gases and climate change

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as carbon dioxide and methane are the primary cause of human induced climate change. As of 2005, the King County region (all residents and businesses) produced approximately 22 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents annually. This is about one quarter of Washington State's emissions and roughly 0.3 percent of the United States' emissions. Transportation and energy efforts have slowed growth in GHG emissions, but in general they continue at unprecedented levels. Importantly, in 2008, King County and Washington State both established near and long term GHG emissions reduction requirements.

• 2008 King County Comprehensive Plan
  • collaborate with other local governments, businesses, and residents in the region to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the region to 80 percent below 2007 levels by 2050
  • reduce all King County government greenhouse gas emissions to 6% below 2000 levels by 2010
• Washington State Law, as outlined by ESSB 2815, effective June 2008
  • by 2020, reduce overall emissions of GHGs in the state to 1990 levels
  • by 2035, reduce emissions to 25% below 1990 levels
  • by 2050, reduce emissions to 50% below 1990 levels

The ten year running average temperature for the Puget Sound Lowlands (1999-2008) is 0.45ºF above the 1971-2000 average (http://jisao.washington.edu/data_sets/climate_division/puget_sound.html). This indicator is chosen as a rough proxy to track the impact of global warming and climate change at the regional level. Overall, five of the 10 warmest years on record for the contiguous U.S. have occurred since 1999, part of a five decade period in which mean temperatures for the contiguous U.S. have risen at a rate near 0.4ºF per decade. This data indicates that the trend observed for the region is consistent with U.S. and national trends of a warming and changing climate system.

Airborne particulate matter and air quality

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) has not yet released its 2008 annual air quality report. In 2007, readings at several King County air monitoring sites exceeded PSCAA's particulate matter health goal of 25 micrograms per cubic meter. Concentrations at some of these sites were not far below the federal daily standard of 35 grams per cubic meter. Measurements taken at these sites are affected by a variety of sources, including wood smoke, vehicles exhaust, industrial activity, and port operations

What else influences these indicators?

Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change

In King County, GHG emissions are primarily caused by fossil fuel use (gasoline and diesel) for transportation and to a lesser but significant extent to heat our buildings (natural gas and heating oil). Combusting fossil fuel (e.g. coal) to produce electricity is also a source of GHG emissions, although in King County, because of the prevalence of hydropower, this is less of a source than in many other regions.

Many factors control changes in regional climate, including cyclic and natural changes in oceanic sea surface temperatures. In addition to these natural causes of climate variability, human caused greenhouse gas emissions (such as carbon dioxide) have a strong affect on global and local climate.

Air quality

The greatest contributing source to PM2.5 (airborne particulate matter) in the Puget Sound area is wood smoke, especially from fireplaces and woodstoves. While wood smoke contributes the greatest mass of PM2.5, particulate matter from diesel engines is the most highly toxic.

What role does King County government play?

The King County Executive Office developed the 2007 King County Climate Plan which addresses both community (regional) and government (operational) GHG emissions. The actions to reduce climate pollution are aimed at using the county's four levers of change: land use, transportation, environmental management and renewable energy. The 2008 Annual Climate Report, a concise seven page summary published in February 2009, summarizes key 2008 efforts and 2009 strategies to mitigate and sequester greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for expected climate impacts. The report is available online.

What can you do?

1. Change your thinking
2. Know your "carbon footprint"
3. Bus, bike or walk to your errands
4. Buy locally
5. Restore habitat
6. Be energy efficient
7. Plug in... to the climate action community
8. Become an EcoConsumer
9. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
10. Make your next house a green home

http://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/globalwarming/takeaction.aspx