From the February 2022 issue of The Voter
Callie Ridolfi, City Climate Action Committee Chair
In our region, climate resiliency will demand substantial citizen engagement, city planning, and investments in sustainable infrastructure. The LWVSKC City Climate Action Committee is creating a proactive response to climate change through democratic engagement of residents in King County to support our cities in meeting their climate action goals. Cities are the source of over 80 percent of carbon emissions in our region and represent the unit of change needed to meet the targets of 50% reduction by 2030 and 95% by 2050. This is a historic challenge and opportunity for reshaping our region’s future!
Last spring, King County released a Climate Action Toolkit to guide customized city climate strategies. Carbon emission inventories for the cities in our region are in development, to be released later this year. Since 2020, we have activated LWVSKC Climate Guides in 18 cities with a focus on engaging citizens and city leaders on climate issues. Inclusive community outreach and equitable engagement are critical to successful climate action, and this is where our work lies.
Empowering residents is critical for cities to meet their climate goals. A framework of climate justice and equitable access to resources and public improvements is emerging as key to our success. Systemic inequities leave frontline communities with limited opportunities for input and access to fewer resources. With the urgency of the climate crisis, community resilience requires that we promote equity for all, especially the most vulnerable.