The City of Seattle will be updating the Climate Action Plan in 2012 and is seeking community input.

The Office of Sustainability & Environment is asking for feedback on how Seattle can achieve a low-carbon future. Visit this link for a short survey.

The Seattle Climate Action Plan will lay out a roadmap for how Seattle can become a carbon neutral city by the year 2050 and be prepared for the impacts of climate change. The plan will include strategies identifying how we can reduce our greenhouse gases in the transportation, building energy and waste sectors.

In 2010, the Seattle City Council challenged residents and city staff alike to think about what it would take to become carbon neutral. The community came together around different sectors and presented their recommendations to City Council in September of 2010.

In May 2011, the Office of Sustainability & Environment released the "Getting to Zero" study that presented a possible pathway for achieving the deep emissions reductions necessary for Seattle to become a carbon neutral city. This study, along with the community generated white papers, will be used to inform the planning process as it moves forward.

On October 3, 2011, the City Council unanimously passed a resolution adopting zero net emissions by 2050 as the goal for the Climate Action Plan.

Throughout the coming months the Office of Sustainability & Environment will work with technical advisory groups (TAGs) to analyze and recommend a wide range of greenhouse gas reduction strategies. The TAGs are comprised of experts in the transportation, building energy, waste, and land use sectors. The TAGs will also help identify short and long term goals and funding mechanisms for the strategies identified in the plan.

All public comments received (via the survey, emails, feedback at meetings) will be forwarded to the TAGs for their consideration.

The timeline for updating the Climate Action Plan is approximately one year. Below is a high level timeline of activities.

Fall 2011 - TAGs start work and meet through spring. All meeting materials including background documents and meeting notes and will be posted online.

Winter 2012 - TAGs continue to meet. Community input is solicited through online comments, staff presentations at community meetings, public meetings and events.

Spring 2012 -Public meeting to present the results of the TAG work and solicit community feedback. The Green Ribbon Commission will be reconvened to review the TAG recommendations and accept additional community feedback.

Summer 2012 - The draft Climate Action Plan will be released for comment in early summer.

Fall 2012 - The Seattle Climate Action Plan is presented to City Council for adoption.

The 2012 Seattle Climate Action Plan will include the following elements:

- Strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation, building energy and waste sectors.
- Strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from city operations.
- Strategies to ensure the city is prepared for the impacts of climate change through 2050.