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Home My WebLink AboutUPDATE re Climate Action Committee - SlidesJefferson County / City of Port Townsend Climate Action Committee 2025 Update, Plans for 2026 Presented on: 1/12/26 to BoCC Presenters: Cindy Jayne, Heather Dudley- Nollette Review of History of the Climate Action Committee 2007 -Adopted Goal to reduce GHGs by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050 2008 -Climate Action Committee Formed 2011 -Climate Action Plan adopted, including 2008 GHG inventory 2015 –Participated in NODC Climate Preparedness Plan 2020 –Updated GHG Inventory with 2018 data 2021 –ID’d Top Oppts to Reduce GHG 2022 -2001-2016 Forest and Tree GHG Inventory 2024 –New GHG Goals Adopted Review of History of the Climate Action Committee Principal Role is to advise the County and the City in the implementation and updating of a Climate Action Plan with specific focus on greenhouse gas emissions; preparing for climate impacts; monitoring progress; conducting community outreach. (Per Joint Res 10-17 (county), 17-009 (City).) Formed Working Groups to Tackle Top Opportunities to Reduce GHG: -Vehicle Miles Traveled reduction -Electric Vehicle Infrastructure and Education -Forest Working Group Updated Goals Based on the 2018 emissions inventory data, climate science and policies, the CAC approved two new recommendations regarding emissions which the city and county approved in June 2024: By 2030: Emissions 58.7% below 2018 levels By 2050: Emissions 95% below 2018 levels Previous goal set in the 2011 Climate Action Plan: 80% reduction in GHG emissions from 1990 levels by the year 2050 Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Work Group -Accomplishments ▪Developed Specific Recommendations to Council and Commission: ▪Increase density in UGAs to reduce sprawl ▪Recommended city and county rescind off street parking minimums to help reduce VMT (and congratulations to the city for doing so!) ▪Provided input re: comp plans related to reducing transportation emissions ▪Recommended the city actively research, develop and implement a managed parking strategy including paid parking in downtown to reduce VMT and GHG emissions; currently discussing with PT Main Street ▪Supported Jefferson Transit’s new Climate Action Plan, and its new 20- minute downtown shuttle! Vehicle Miles Traveled Work Group –Future Opportunities Future Opportunities: ▪Help move forward comp plan goals and policies related to VMT reduction, including: ▪Continue to work with PT Main Street on exploring managed parking ▪Partner with others to fund and develop commute reduction programs ▪Promote street systems that support multiple modes of transportation ▪Promote a safe, energy efficient transit system, and increase transit use ▪Continue to promote increased density in UGAs to reduce VMT EV Work Group - Accomplishments Through collaboration with a variety of organizations successfully applied for grants resulting in Fast chargers at: ◦Old Chamber (installed 2024) ◦Tri-Area Community Center (in development) ◦Olympic Peninsula Gateway Visitors Center (in development) ◦Quilcene Village Store and Port Ludlow Store (in development) Fleet Chargers for Jefferson County and Jefferson PUD EV Work Group – Accomplishments and Future Accomplishments: ZEV EV Carshare –one at old Chamber and one at OlyCAP 7th Haven, launched 2023 Jefferson Transit has 3 E buses and two EV admin vehicles JPUD and County installed EV chargers for fleet and staff Possibilities for Future: E-bike / Micromobility vehicle share E-School buses Additional fleet vehicles Low Income Multifamily housing chargers Note: Group changed to As Needed meetings under Local 20/20 as opportunities come forward Greenhouse Gas Inventory for 2001 –2016 and Next Steps Jefferson County Forests and Trees Greenhouse Gas Inventory for 2001 – 2016 and Next Steps In 2021, the CAC modeled the net GHG impact from forests and trees in the county, by ownership In February 2022, the CAC approved report New Carbon Sequestration Goals By 2030: a 20% increase above the 2011-2016 baseline By 2050: an additional 20% increase of CO2 removals Total of 40% increase above 2011-2016 baseline Adopted by both the BoCC and City Council in 2024! Forest Working Group - Accomplishments -Proposed new carbon sequestration goals -Provided input to the CAC re: forest and tree aspects of the comp plans -Working with City of Port Townsend on Urban Forestry Grant -Researched tree ordinances from other municipalities -Researching carbon offset programs that could be used by small forestland owners in Jefferson County Forest Working Group - Opportunities for County And City Top opportunities to help meet new carbon sequestration goal and comp plan goals and policies: -Help influence state policy –encouraging longer rotations for better carbon management AND more wood product -Share educational resources around the impacts of wood burning and funding opportunities to replace or improve woodstoves -Manage county and city owned forests for carbon: -Develop a carbon management plan for the county/city owned lands -Add language to forest related contracts for carbon management -Partner with CAC to update the Tree Ordinances to increase carbon storage and provide ecosystem benefits including cooling and water retention Forest Working Group - Opportunities for County and City Top opportunities to help meet new carbon sequestration goal: -Partner with CAC and potentially WSU and/or Conservation District to help educate small private forestland owners, the public and others regarding forest and tree management practices that promote carbon sequestration, and including safe fire management -Investigate opportunities to plant trees in currently unforested areas; apply for grants, etc. Collaborate with Quimper Parks and Trees Foundation -Share funding opportunities for carbon friendly management with small forestland owners Other Working Groups -Comp Plan Work Group –Created in 2024 to work with the city and county on the new Climate Elements as well as other climate-related input -Outreach group –Created in 2024 to collaborate with city and county on climate outreach, including updating county CAC webpage, etc. -Created Food Systems Work Group in 2024 Food Systems Work Group Accomplishments: -Provided input to CAC regarding food and agricultural aspects of the comp plan -Helped develop an idea for a grant proposal related to workshops for local growers and how to prepare for climate impacts -Early planning for developing a Food System Resilience Plan for Jefferson County, as recommended in the draft comp plans Future: Propose that the development of a county-wide Food System Resilience Plan be the focus going forward, as well as participating in city comp plan updates related to agriculture Working Group Model to Move Forward Comp Plan Climate Elements With new climate goals and policies in the City and County Comp Plans, we propose that we use the Working Group Model to help move those goals and policies forward, and to track them. This allows each group to pull in staff and volunteers that are interested in specific areas, while rolling up the big picture at the CAC level. Will require working with city and county staff, as well as other CAC partners (JPUD, Jefferson Transit, Port, PUD, Jefferson Healthcare, etc.) and other organizations. Starting point will be going through the comp plans and identifying actions, timelines, and responsible parties, in a climate element action plan. Proposed goal: to develop a joint plan in 2026 with progress occurring simultaneously. Organizational Climate Activities Propose that rather than rolling up separate organizational climate goals, we use the climate element action plans in each of the comprehensive plans to identify the work each organization will be doing relative to implementing the climate elements. Other climate items identified by organizations that don’t tie directly to the comp plans could be included there as well. Questions and Discussion Thank you for your time! www.co.jefferson.wa.us/637/Climate-Action-Committee, and see Document link for reports