Drafter
Clerk 02/12/2009
Title
AN ORDINANCE relating to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from project and non-project actions subject to the state Environmental Policy Act; and adding new sections to K.C.C. chapter 20.44.
Body
SECTION Findings:
A. Climate change in the Pacific Northwest is resulting in increased average annual temperatures, significantly increased summer temperatures, increased winter precipitation falling as rain, significant decreases in mountain snowpack, more intense precipitation events, sea-level rise and changes in the timing and magnitude of stream flows.
B. Climate change impacts are expected to increase flood and erosion hazards, affect water supplies for drinking water, salmon, hydropower and irrigation, increase wildfire risks, exacerbate public health risks from respiratory problems due to increased smog and temperatures and negatively affect the diversity and abundance of wildlife and their habitats.
C. In 2007 the United Nations's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that "warming of the climate system is unequivocal... and most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic (human-caused) greenhouse gas concentrations (primarily carbon dioxide)."
D. There is a growing scientific consensus that global temperature increases of more than two degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels would lead to devastating impacts.
E. Findings from the United Nations's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicate that limiting global temperature increase to two degrees celsius will require the stabilization of total atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations to between four hundred fifty and four hundred seventy-five parts per million.
F. Leading scientists have projected that stabilization of atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions to avoid temperature increases greater then two degrees celsius will requ...
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