Drafter
Clerk 12/12/2019
Title
AN ORDINANCE relating to the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan; requiring the 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan Update and all subsequent updates be developed using an environmental justice framework and the inclusion of a green jobs strategy and a sustainable and resilient community strategy; and amending Ordinance 17270, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 18.25.010 and Ordinance 17166, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 18.50.010.
Body
PREAMBLE:
King County has a long record of innovation, leadership and investment in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for the impacts of climate change. The King County Strategic Climate Action Plan is the blueprint that guides the county's actions in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for the impacts of climate change. The county's first Strategic Climate Action Plan was adopted in 2012 and updated in 2015, consistent with K.C.C. chapter 18.25. As required by King County Code, in June 2020 the executive will transmit an updated strategic climate action plan. The executive has convened a climate equity task force where leaders of frontline communities will develop goals and guide priority areas for climate action based on community values and concerns. Building on this existing work the 2020 King County Strategic Climate Action Plan and subsequent updates should address the climate crisis using a framework of environmental justice and in ways that create and maintain quality jobs with a focus on those most impacted by change in order to build sustainable and resilient communities and a more equitable economy.
An environmental justice framework calls for environmental policies to explicitly address racial and economic disparities exacerbated by climate change. Across this country, including King County, historic discriminatory policies have placed a disproportionate environmental impact on the most marginalized communities. Furthermore, those most impacted ...
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