San Juan County, WA Declaration on Climate Change

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 1/31/08
Source File: http://www.sanjuanco.com/council/docs/Resolutions/2008/Resolution%20No.%208-2008.pdf
Text:
RESOLUTION NO. 8
A RESOLUTION OF SAN JUAN COUNTY OF DECLARATION AND RESOLUTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
WHEREAS, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,
representing over 2,500 climate scientists and twenty years of research, has concluded
that global warming caused by human emission of greenhouse gases is among the most
significant problems facing the world today;
WHEREAS, projected impacts of global warming will likely include changing patterns
of habitats for disease-carrying insects; changes in rain and snowfall patterns, affecting
water supplies, agriculture, and the frequency of flooding; changes in natural habitats that
will eliminate some species and introduce new ones; with sea-level rise and greater
coastal storm damage putting island and coastal environments at increased risk;
WHEREAS, state, regional and local governments throughout the United States are
adopting emission reduction targets and programs and that this leadership is multi-partisan
and coming from governors, county officials, and mayors alike;
WHEREAS, many counties throughout the nation, both large and small, are reducing the
production of global warming pollutants through programs that provide economic and
quality of life benefits, such as reduced energy bills, green space preservation, air quality
improvements, reduced traffic congestion, improved transportation choices, and
economic development and job creation through energy conservation and new energy
technologies;
NOW, THEREFORE IT BE DECLARED AND RESOLVED that,
The San Juan County Council, recognizing the critical nature of global warming and
climate change, and cognizant of the actions being taken by local, state, and federal
governments and other organizations around the globe, pledges to take steps for climate
stabilization, and strongly encourages San Juan County residents and businesses to
reduce their carbon footprints.
The San Juan County Council will serve as a model for the community by taking the following actions:
1. Switch to compact fluorescent, full spectrum compact fluorescent, and
LED light bulbs in county government offices;
2. Instruct county staff to turn off all lights, computers, and other devices
when leaving for the day;
3. Reduce individual travel and encourage telecommuting and
teleconferencing whenever possible for county business;
4. Make composting bins available to county residents at wholesale prices;
5. Set up a county web page on climate change that serves as an
information resource with a link to San Juan County Conservation
District;
6. Strive to meet U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) certification in all future county
government buildings/remodels ;
7. Use biodiesel in county government diesel vehicles, as it becomes
practical, with the goal of usingB2} or greater biodiesel in all county
diesel vehicles by 2010;
8. Switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles, such as hybrid vehicles, when
appropriate, in new county fleet purchases targeting a combined fleet-wide
average of 36 mpg by 2012;
9. Provide more trails, bikeways and improved roadway shoulders for
walking and biking--provide more bicycle parking throughout the county;
10. Adopt a green building program based on the LEED certification,
with incentives, for San Juan County;
11. Require all county departments to buy recycled
products, when possible, including paper products that use atIeast30Yo
recycled content;
12. Evaluate, strengthen and enforce tree and vegetation protection
ordinances in San Juan County;
13. Support mini-bus and mini-van service throughout San Juan County,
as well as the use of the sjRIDESHARE program;
14. Create an inventory of both county government operational and county
geographical greenhouse gas emissions. Set a target of greenhouse gas
emissions reductions after inventory data are available;
15. Require solid waste facilities countywide to handle and provide for full
recycling, composting, and reuse centers;
16. Recycle all recyclable products in all county buildings and facilities;
17. Purchase only non-Styrofoam containers for all county facilities and
county activities;
18. Work with Washington State Ferries to encourage increased pedestrian
and bicycle traffic on ferries coming to the islands, and ask the San Juan
Islands Visitors Bureau to further promote non-motorized visitor-ship in
the San Juan Islands.
Here are ten actions that San Juan County residents and businesses can take:
1. Know your carbon footprint in order to understand your energy use
habits- use the Bonneville Environmental Foundation's "carbon
calculator" that is tailored to the Pacific Northwest (http://www.b-e-f.org);
2. Reduce energy use by switching to compact fluorescent, full spectrum
compact fluorescent, and LED light bulbs which can be disposed at the
hazardous waste disposal sites on San Juan Island and Orcas Island in
April 2008 and on Lopez Island either September or October 2008;
3. Reduce energy use by driving less- - walk, bike, carpool, rideshare,
more fuel efficient vehicles;
4. Reduce energy use by buying local produce/food products and other
market products, avoiding products shipped long distances and use canvas
bags for shopping;
5. Reduce energy use by turning off all electrical equipment and lights
when not in use;
6. Reduce energy use by improving home energy efficiency (ask
OPALCO for a home energy audit) and buying Energy Star appliances;
7. Reduce energy use by turning down water heater thermostats to 120
degrees:
8. Recycle all newsprint, cardboard, glass, metal, and plastic;
9. Compost food products and yard waste; and
10. Cut less trees and shrubs and plant more native drought resistant types.
Category:Climate Policy
Category:County Governments
Category:Resolutions
Category:Washington