The Pierce County Council reaffirmed commitment to protecting the environment Tuesday when it adopted the Sustainability 2030: Pierce County Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan.
The plan outlines a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% across Pierce County operations and the larger community by 2030.
“We are running out of time to take these necessary steps to protect ourselves from catastrophic warming,” said Council Chair Derek Young. “And while we are celebrating adoption of this bold plan to reduce carbon pollution in Pierce County, we are ready to begin implementation, which is the most important part for our community and future generations.”
The Sustainability 2030 plan comes on the heels of the county’s 2015-2020 Sustainability Plan which focused on protecting human and environmental health, limited waste and saved money across the county. Ongoing community engagement with stakeholders and sustainability experts helped shape the plan, which was guided by the values of equity, accountability, fiscal responsibility, economic development and innovation and the desire to create and maintain vibrant communities.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions across Pierce County improves the health of Pierce County residents, improves the air and water quality, and will save Pierce County residents money over the long term.
The proposed plan calls for conducting an environmental equity assessment and ensuring underrepresented communities are included in the prioritization, implementation, and future updates to the plan.
drsmythe says
A couple of things popped into my head reading this plan:
1. It isn’t a plan. It is a glitzy and detailed wish list with no quantifiable substance for measuring progress, or assigning accountability.
2. Greenhouse emissions is a worldwide problem and nothing we do in Pierce County will significantly improve the world situation; other than, perhaps, stop buying anything from countries with increasing emissions, such as China. From what I can tell if the Washington state could stop all emissions the world output might drop by 0.2%. Pierce county’s proposed 45% reduction is meaningless. This isn’t to say we shouldn’t do what we can or be an example and show some leadership, but for a council person to say, “We are running out of time to take these necessary steps to protect ourselves from catastrophic warming” only jeopardizes credibility.
3. According to the Pierce County Sustainability Plan, 92% of the green house emissions come from road vehicles (37%), residents (19%) and Industry/Commerce (22% and 14% respectively). With the significant number of housing developments, warehouse construction and bogged down traffic during much of the day I can only see emissions increasing.
John Arbeeny says
Yet another example of “woke” “virtue signalling” elected representatives jumping on the bandwagon of anything that sounds good in the absence of any science to back it up. 45%? Where was that number pulled out of? Where’s the science behind it or did they use a dart board blindfolded to arrive at the figure? The reduction in emissions of 700,000 is somehow going to affect the climate of 7,000,000,000? Just another plan to get their hands in your wallet while accomplishing nothing of importance. It’s what politicians do. Elections have results. When the next one comes around vote out anyone who professes to believe in this unscientific “feel good” garbage!