City Council Endorses Updated Climate Commitments

Nov 25, 2019 - At its Tuesday, November 19 meeting, the City Council unanimously endorsed an updated version of a pledge to continue local and regional work on greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction measures. 

Organized by the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C), the City endorsed the first Joint Letter of Commitment in 2014. Since that time, climate-related policy advances made in Olympia, weakened federal emissions programs, and new technical developments collectively indicated the need to refresh the original 2014 commitments document.
 
The City of Mercer Island was a founding member of the K4C in 2011, and continues to partner with other member cities and the County on various GHG reduction programs, climate advocacy at the State Legislature, and related actions such as sign-on letters and awareness campaigns.
 
The 2019 Joint Climate Commitments letter represents a collective vision, but it is understood that GHG actions and programs will look different for every member city. 
 
The letter's overarching GHG goals also align with several other existing City commitments already underway, such as City Resolution 1389  from 2007, in which the City formally committed to strive for greenhouse gas emissions of 80% below 2007 levels by 2050.  
 
Since personal vehicle travel and energy use in buildings are by far the two largest source of Mercer Island community emissions, the City has focused many environmental programs on transportation alternatives, first/last-mile solutions, and clean energy programs such as rooftop solar.

Learn more about City sustainability programs.