Check out this video about an exciting neighbor-to-neighbor energy efficiency project called "The Switch!"

Four years ago, on February 16th, 2005, Mayor Nickels began the City’s Climate Protection Initiative by pledging that Seattle would meet the greenhouse gas reductions targets of the international Kyoto Protocol by reducing citywide emissions seven percent below 1990 levels. Mayor Nickels challenged mayors across the country to do the same and after 4 years 911 Mayors have joined Mayor Nickels in signing the Climate Protection Agreement and have pledged to take significant action toward climate change. Here is what Seattle is doing to protect the City from climate change.

The City will reduce its climate pollution through broad-ranging strategies including investing in transportation choices, encouraging compact communities, promoting clean energy and conservation, leading by example, and inspiring others to take action.

In addition to reducing the City's contribution to global warming, the City will also prepare for climate change by ensuring that Seattle's infrastructure, facilities, and services are ready to adapt to the projected impacts of climate change.

The goal of the Seattle Climate Protection Initiative is to reduce greenhouse gases in Seattle by:

• 7% below 1990 levels by 2012
• 30% below 1990 levels by 2024
• 80% below 1990 levels by 2050

Transportation Choices, Compact Communities

To reduce vehicle miles traveled, the City is currently working to expand transportation options, center growth in urban centers, and improve bike and pedestrian infrastructure to help bicyclists and walkers reach their destination safely.

Current Accomplishments

• The City, in combination with King County Metro, purchased 20,000 hours of new bus service.
• Seattle Department of Transportation added 50 miles of new bike lanes and sharrows since the Bicycle Master Plan was finalized.

Clean Vehicles, Clean Fuels

To reduce climate pollution from cars on the road, the City has developed a citywide fuel-reduction plan, individual departments are taking steps to incorporate hybrid and electric vehicles into their fleets, and the City is currently testing Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles and researching alternative fuels.

Current Accomplishments

• The City passed Green Taxi regulations that increase the number of taxis by 30 percent but decrease green house gas emissions by at least ten percent over the next four years.
• The City reduced citywide fuel consumption by 41,000 gallons, saving 410 tons of greenhouse gases emissions.
• Seattle Center reduced fuel consumption by 40 percent by using electric vehicles.

Clean Energy, Efficient Buildings

To increase the number of buildings and infrastructure that use clean energy efficiently in Seattle , in addition to saving energy through Seattle City Light’s conservation programs, the City is working to promote solar and other alternative energy sources and will provide homeowners and businesses with the tools to improve building efficiency, with the goal of increasing the efficiency of Seattle buildings by at least 20 percent by 2020.

Current Accomplishments

• The City launched a Green Building Task Force to develop policies that will increase energy efficiency of Seattle buildings by 20 percent, with policy recommendations due this year.
• City Light distributed 1.4 million CFLs through the Twist & Save program, avoiding 23,000 tons of GHGs.
• City Light exceeded conservation goals by 20%, saving enough energy to power 9,800 homes in Seattle for a year.

Community Engagement

To help Seattle residents lower their carbon footprint, , the City is engaging businesses and residents through two innovative programs- Seattle Climate Action Now and the Seattle Climate Partnership.

Current Accomplishments

• Climate Action Now distributed 10,000 home energy kits to help residents increase the energy efficiency of their homes.
• Seattle Climate Partnership membership increased by approximately 110% in 2008--from 53 to 122 members.

Leadership, Leverage

To help create federal and state policies that advance local climate solutions, the City is currently active at the federal and state level and is encouraging cities throughout the United States to follow Seattle’s lead by sharing resources and best practices, and by asking mayors to join the Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement.

Current Accomplishments

• 910 mayors have signed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.

Progress toward the Climate Protection Initiative is measured in three ways. First, the Climate Protection Initiative Progress Report outlines some significant accomplishments made in the City’s climate protection strategy areas. Second, specific progress toward meeting the Climate Protection Initiative goals is measured through the community-wide carbon footprint, which is released every three years. Third, to track progress on a yearly basis, the City has identified a collection of measures that give us early indications of progress. These measures are shown in the sidebar to the right. The City will use these measures as part of an ongoing evaluation of strategy areas and innovation.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Seattle's Future

New! Climate Action Outreach Toolkit for Cities

Climate Action Plan and Progress Reports

• 2008 Progress Report - (PDF, 2.4 MB)
• 2007 Progress Report - (PDF, 111 KB)
• Action Plan, released 2006 - (PDF 850 KB)

Seattle's Carbon Footprint

• Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory - (Summary--PDF, 137 KB)
• Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory -(Full report--PDF, 884 KB)

Related files

• Action Plan Exec Summary - (PDF 870 KB)
• Action Plan press release

Upcoming Climate Events