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Home My WebLink AboutCAC Goals to BOCC 022624Climate Action Committee Update to Board of County Commissioners Re Recommended Goals FEBRUARY 26 TH, 2024 Overview In 2008, the City and County jointly adopted a goal to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, using a 2005 baseline In 2020, the CAC approved an updated emissions inventory of 2018 emissions, and in 2021, a summary of the top opportunities to reduce those emissions. In 2022, the CAC approved the 2001-2016 Forest and Tree GHG Inventory. Overview Based on the latest inventory data, climate science and policies, the CAC approved two new recommendations to the BOCC and City Council regarding emissions and carbon sequestration goals: New (Sector-Based) Emissions Goals By 2030: Emissions 58.7% below 2018 levels By 2050: Emissions 95% below 2018 levels Overview New Carbon Sequestration Goals for Jefferson County, excluding the Olympic National Park and Wilderness areas (ONPW) By 2030: a 20% increase above the 2011-2016 baseline of 1.6 Million Metric Tons of CO2(MMTCO2)/year, up to 2.0 MMTCO2 By 2050: an additional 20% increase to 2.3 MMTCO2/year, for a total of 40% increase above 2011-2016 baseline New Emissions Goal Rationale The 2018 GHG inventory data showed we were making great progress: A 39% reduction from 1990 levels, ahead of the 2020 goal of a 15% reduction, and well on our way to the 80% below 1990 by 2050. However, globally, we are not on track to keep warming below the 1.5’C increase in temperature the IPCC and the Paris Agreement recommends. New Emissions Goal Rationale The CAC adopted the Science-Based Target for our fair share of global emissions to meet the Paris Agreement as calculated per ICLEI: ◦A 58.7% absolute (not per capita) reduction in GHG emissions from 2018 by 2030 Recommended High Impact Activities (same as modeled in CAC’s Reduction Opportunity Report): ◦Electric Vehicle Adoption ◦Reduction of Vehicle Miles Traveled ◦Increasing commercial & residential building efficiency and electrification. New Emissions Goal Rationale For 2050, the IPCC recommends all organizations be net zero. ◦However, we already meet that target, since our forests sequester 13 times more GHGs than the amount reported in our 2018 emissions inventory. ◦But that doesn’t mean we get a pass on reducing emissions. We recommend following the Washington State goal of a 95% reduction of emissions by 2050 New Emissions Goal Summary Year GHG Emissions (Metric tons) % reduction from 2018 Percent reduction from 1990 level 1990 441,560 est.N/A N/A 2018 GHG Emissions 275,083 N/A 38% 2030 Emissions Goal 113,609 58.7%74% 2050 Emissions Goal 13,754 95%97% : Carbon Sequestration Recommendation Forests in Jefferson County have been identified as high-carbon-priority, based on their potential carbon sequestration and low vulnerability to drought or fire. Our forests and trees across our county are sequestering (or removing) more than 13 times the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in the county Additionally, emissions from forest harvest is a significant percentage of man-made emissions in the County (not including CO2 removals from forests). Carbon Sequestration Recommendation The Jefferson County Forest and Trees GHG Inventory shows for 2011-2016, for the entire county, the CO2 sequestered is equivalent to reducing Washington State’s total current GHG emissions (102 MMT in 2019) by 3.6%. The proposed 2030 goal for Jefferson County (excluding the ONPW) would provide an additional 0.3% reduction in of current WA GHG emissions. Carbon Sequestration Recommendation The proposed 2050 goal would provide an additional 0.6% reduction from the State’s current GHG emissions levels. By 2050, the Recommended Goals for Jeff Co would provide at total of 4.2% reduction in WA’s current GHG emissions Carbon Sequestration Recommendation USFS Land in Jeff Co sequestered 5.0 mtCO2/acre in 2011-2016. This is higher than any other ownership. If that same rate was applied to: DNR, commercial/industrial, small private/public, and county-owned areas (455,651 acres) of the county -and all other areas were held constant at 2011-2016 levels, -that would result in a 76% increase in the carbon sequestration per year for the county excluding ONPW areas. Proposed Goal for Carbon Sequestration New Carbon Sequestration Goals for Jefferson County, excluding the Olympic National Park and Wilderness areas (ONPW) By 2030: a 20% increase above the 2011-2016 baseline of 1.6 Million Metric Tons of CO2(MMTCO2)/year, up to 2.0 MMTCO2 By 2050: an additional 20% increase to 2.3 MMTCO2/year, for a total of 40% increase above 2011-2016 baseline Other WA Counties ◦King County -Forest Carbon Program includes offering both Urban and Rural Forest Carbon Credits ◦Whatcom County –Climate Action Plan has a goal to “enhance carbon storage and sequestration” ◦Pierce County –GHG Plan includes conserving lands for carbon sequestration, and increasing the use of carbon sequestration BMPs ◦We don’t know of any county that has established a carbon sequestration goal Local Efforts Under Way Jefferson County Forestry Feasibility Study: Calls for “sustainable forestry program that will reduce fire risk, Improve forest health and biodiversity, Increase carbon sequestration” Jeff. Co. working with DNR to leverage Climate Commitment Act funding to add forest areas into the state’s new carbon sequestration program City of Port Townsend -awarded $500K from USFS for an Urban Forestry Plan and tree planting in CastleHill neighborhood. Opportunities to Increase Carbon Sequestration Work with DNR to do trust land transfers or reconveyance to County ownership Support forest management on private lands through education, policies and opportunities such as: ▪Forest Carbon Works which offers carbon credit payments for small landowners ▪Continue to fund County forestry programs to include carbon management Other Opportunities ▪Engage Washington Congressional delegation and 24th Legislative District on carbon policies, including carbon pricing. ▪Encourage and incentivize planting of trees for long term establishment in un-forested areas. ▪Consider expanding the tree ordinance to encourage retaining standing trees when practical. Forest Management Co-Benefits ❖Stormwater management/mitigation ❖Enhanced water quality and conservation ❖Temperature mitigation ❖Public health benefits ❖Protects biodiversity, provides food and habitat for wildlife ❖Increases employment from non-timber forest products and tourism Questions and Discussion Backup Carbon Sequestration Recommendation Figure 12 of the Jefferson County Forest and Trees GHG Inventory report shows that the US Forest Service (USFS) land had the highest per acre amount of carbon removal in the 2011-2016 timeframe. Additionally, it had the highest percent forest cover, at 93%.