HomeMy WebLinkAboutPROCLAMATION re Earth Day Regular Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Adiel McKnight, Deputy Clerk of the Board
DATE: April 21,2025
SUBJECT: PROCLAMATION re: Proclaiming April 22,2025 as International Earth Day
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
The first Earth Day was enacted 55 years ago, in 1970, and engaged over twenty million Americans to
advocate for a cleaner environment and as an international call to positive action for all citizens to join
a global effort to protect the environment. Jefferson County, Washington is blessed with a wealth of
wild and productive forests, fields, mountains and shorelines stewarded by indigenous people since
time immemorial and to this day provide residents and visitors alike with healthy food, irreplaceable
habitat and species, sustainable natural resources, and many scenic recreational opportunities.
In 2007,Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend committed to creating a baseline of
greenhouse gas emissions,reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80%of 1990 levels by 2050,jointly
creating a Climate Action Committee (CAC)to recommend actions for climate change mitigation and
adaption, and raise awareness of how a changing climate affects our region.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to Jefferson County.
RECOMMENDATION•
Approve Proclamation re: Proclaiming April 22, 2025 as International Earth Day
REVIEWED BY:
"J&'X.4,
Mark McCauley, 06unty Administrator Da
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, the first Earth Day was enacted 55 years ago, in 1970, and engaged over
twenty million Americans to advocate for a cleaner environment and as an international call to
positive action for all citizens to join a global effort to protect the environment; and
WHEREAS, all people, regardless of race, gender, income, religion or geography, have a
moral right to a healthy environment. Earth Day is celebrated annually to recommit to the goals
of a healthy environment as foundational to peaceful,just and sustainable societies; and
WHEREAS, Jefferson County, Washington is blessed with a wealth of wild and
productive forests, fields, mountains and shorelines - stewarded by indigenous people since time
immemorial - and to this day provide residents and visitors alike with healthy food, irreplaceable
habitat and species, sustainable natural resources, and many scenic recreational opportunities;
and
WHEREAS, in 2007, Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend committed to:
creating a baseline of greenhouse gas emissions, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80%of
1990 levels,jointly creating a Climate Action Committee (CAC)to recommend actions for
climate change mitigation and adaption, and raise awareness of how a changing climate affects
our region; and
WHEREAS, the mission of the Climate Action Committee is in alignment with the focus
of International Earth Day 2025 observation and celebration around the world; and
WHEREAS,jointly, Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend set new goals,
which are; and
Reduce Community-wide greenhouse gas emissions to;
1. 58.7%below 2018 levels by 2030(absolute)
2. 95%below 2018 levels by 2050 (absolute); and
Increase Sequestration of greenhouse gas emissions to:
1. 20% increase above the 2011-2016 baseline of 1.64 Million Metric
Tons of CO2 (MMTCO2)/year,up to 2.0 MMTCO2 by 2030
2. And by an additional 20% increase to 2.3 MMTCO2/year,totaling a
40% increase above the 2011-2016 baseline by 2050; and
WHEREAS, local governments can be leaders in building a healthy society by
addressing issues such as energy and resource conservation, transportation, sustainable land use
planning, waste prevention, and environmental justice; and
WHEREAS, we acknowledge the importance of Earth Day as a reminder that in
Jefferson County, truly Earth Day is Every Day.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT in recognition of our communities'
deeply held care for and collective responsibility to preserve and protect our environment, the
Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners hereby proclaims April 22, 2025 as
International Earth Day
4
and encourage all residents to commit to lowering their carbon footprint and engaging in efforts
to protect and heal the planet we call home.
APPROVED this 21" day of April, 2025
SEAL: JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Heidi Eisenhour, Chair
ATTEST:
Greg Brotherton, Member
Carolyn Gallaway, CMC,
Clerk of the Board Heather Dudley-Nollette, Member