Title
Approval of a Resolution to Establish a 2030 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Target
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a resolution to establish a 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a resolution to establish a 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.
Staff Contact:
Pamela Braff, PhD, Climate Program Manager, City Manager's Office, 360.753.8249
Presenter(s):
Pamela Braff, PhD, Climate Program Manager
Background and Analysis:
Previous Emissions Targets
In April 2018, Thurston County, Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and Thurston Regional Planning Council began the first phase of work to develop a regional climate mitigation plan. Phase I resulted in the following regional greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets:
* 45% below 2015 levels by 2030
* 85% below 2015 levels by 2050
Over the next two years, the partner jurisdictions worked together to develop a regional climate mitigation plan. In February 2021, all partners accepted the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan (TCMP) as a common framework to achieve the regionally adopted emissions reduction targets
In addition to working on the regional TCMP, in 2019, Olympia City Council also passed a Youth Climate Inheritance Resolution (No. M-2045). The resolution was developed in collaboration with Olympia High School Students and committed the City to work with the youth of Olympia to achieve a goal of net-zero emissions by 2040.
Why Update Olympia's Emissions Targets?
The regional greenhouse gas emissions targets developed in Phase I of the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan are no longer consistent with the best available science on the action necessary to avoid the worst consequences of climate change.
Adopting an interim 2030 science-based target is also a requirement of the Cities Race to Zero Campaign, which Olympia joined in 2021. Cities Race to Zero is a glob...
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