Performance Measures
Climate Protection
About this measure: This performance measure addresses the degree that King County achieves its climate response objectives for government operations related to:
- Mitigating (reducing) operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and sequestering carbon
- Climate change impacts preparedness (adaptation).
King County Government operations creates roughly 420,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCO2e) annually, or about 2% of the King County region's emissions. These operational emissions are equal to the annual emissions of about 105,000 U.S. vehicles. Production of greenhouse gases (primarily methane) from landfills and wastewater treatment are the dominant source of government emissions, with transportation, especially from transit busses, a close second. Electricity usage for operations is the third most important source of emissions, accounting for about 15% of the total.
Performance Targets: King County's climate response targets are articulated in the 2008 King County Comprehensive Plan and the 2007 Climate Plan. Primary goals related to government operational GHG emissions are to:
- Reduce all King County government GHG emissions to 6% below 2000 levels by 2010
In addition to these emissions mitigation targets, the Comprehensive Plan articulates ways that King County should be a leader in promoting carbon sequestration as well as in climate change impacts preparedness.
Status: As a member in the Chicago Climate Exchange, King County has legal and fiscal commitments to reduce its direct greenhouse gas emissions from gasoline, diesel, heating oil, natural gas, jet fuel and steam usage. Countywide performance is reported below:
For an analysis of the region's performance status to reach the overall community reduction goal of 80% below 2007 levels by 2050, see the Atmosphere Indicator (provide link).
King County government also continues to work to prepare for the impacts of climate change. Examples of 2009 efforts included:
- Reducing current and projected flood risk by repairing levees and revetments, acquiring at-risk floodplain properties and improving flood warning and prediction capacity.
- Planning for the impacts that projected sea level rise would have on county infrastructure.
- Beginning a new effort to plan for projected climate change impacts on public health.
Influencing Factors: The key factors that influence King County's ability to meeting government operational greenhouse gas emissions reductions and climate preparedness goals include:
- cost and adoption rate of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects
- leadership and operational level commitments to emissions reduction
- policy development, accounting advancements, and staff training
- science to inform and optimize carbon sequestration and adaptation strategies
- technologies to measure and improve actions that prepare King County lands for unavoidable impacts of climate variability
Existing response: The 2009 King County Climate Report, transmitted by King County Executive Dow Constantine on February 1, 2010, documents actions during the last year that implement the 2007 King County Climate Plan. It also gives an overview of anticipated activities for 2010. The report outlines progress and plans in four key areas: leadership, mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to prepare for the impacts of climate change and assessment. A few of the many accomplishments in 2009, and plans for 2010, are highlighted on the King County Climate Change website.
2009 King County Climate Report
Technical Notes
For definitions and more detail.
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