UPDATE 10/1: Both candidates have signed!

I pledge to lead Seattle’s fight against climate change. I will propose and advocate for policies, programs, budgets and revenue that reduces GHG emissions by 58% by 2030², with a path to achieve zero emissions of greenhouse gases city-wide by 2050. This will be done with transparency and a commitment to climate justice, so no one falls short on the essentials of life and livelihood as we make this transition. To achieve our 2030 goals¹  and beyond, I further pledge to take specific actions for the two largest GHG emission sources and to follow through with the governance actions described below:

The Building Decarbonization Pledge: I pledge to support and champion policies and programs to immediately drive energy efficiency and a transition away from using fossil fuels in new and existing buildings – with the ultimate goal of eliminating use of virtually all fossil fuels in buildings in Seattle. I will ensure that vulnerable communities are the first to benefit from this transition and that workers, particularly those in fossil fuel related industries, are included in the planning for its implementation. To accelerate decarbonization of existing buildings I pledge to:

1. In my first year, develop an updated implementation plan to transition most buildings away from fossil fuel heating by initially reducing building GHG emissions 39% by 2030²; 
2. Advocate for state legislation to allow Seattle City Light to incentivize conversion from fossil fuels used for building heating to electricity and to implement the incentives when the legislation passes³;
3. Fund in each year’s budget, increased incentives and programs for building energy efficiency upgrades and decarbonization with a priority on low-income, BIPOC and vulnerable communities⁴;
4. Work with the City Council to pass legislation to establish GHG targets and programs for commercial and multifamily buildings with anti-workforce displacement measures⁵.

The Transportation Decarbonization Pledge: I pledge to champion policies and programs to achieve a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from transportation each year by improving access to alternatives to automobiles and accelerating the conversion to electric vehicles. To accelerate the decarbonization of transportation, I pledge to:

1. Make transit more frequent, convenient and reliable through funding for Metro from the Transportation Benefit District, sufficient to meet the transit ridership goals set in the City Comprehensive Plan⁶;
2. Fund and implement the Pedestrian⁷ and Bicycle Master Plans⁸;
3. Fund and implement the City’s Seattle’s Clean Transportation Electrification Blueprint⁹to pave the way for electric vehicles;
4. Propose budget funding and implement the SDOT EVSE  Roadmap for Shared Mobility Hubs¹⁰program to convert the fleets of taxis and rideshare vehicles to electric; 
5. Seek funding to restore the West Seattle and Ballard Link Light Rail schedule¹¹. 

The Governance and Climate Justice Pledge:

I pledge to be accountable to the climate goals set out by ordinance and the Office of Sustainability and Environment, to work transparently to achieve these goals and to keep equity at the front of our considerations. I pledge to start work as soon as I take office by:

1. Prioritizing climate action within my cabinet, providing accountability and external and interdepartmental coordination on climate goal actions; 
2. Working in close collaboration with the City Council to implement the City’s climate strategy and issue an Annual Report on the status of City climate change and climate justice actions;

Launching, in my first year, a highly visible public education program on the benefits and technical requirements of building and transportation decarbonization.

References

1. Resolution 31312, A RESOLUTION adopting new climate protection and adaptation goals for Seattle and outlining the process for updating the Seattle Climate Action Plan to provide a roadmap for achieving those goals., 12/12/11  (http://clerk.seattle.gov/search/resolutions/31312);
   Resolution 31757, A RESOLUTION relating to the Office of Sustainability and Environment; affirming The City of Seattle’s commitment to meet or exceed goals established in the Paris Agreement., 6/16/17 (http://clerk.seattle.gov/search/resolutions/31757) 
2. OSE (Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment) Climate Justice presentation to City Council on 3/23/21 – see slide 16
3. Section 16 of Healthy Homes and Clean Building Act introduced in legislature as HB 1084: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1084&Initiative=false&Year=2021; pg 7 of Seattle’s 2021 Legislative Agenda. https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/OIR/2021/2021%20Legislative%20Agenda/Exhibit%201%20-%20City%20of%20Seattle%20State%20Legislative%20Agenda.pdf
4. Seattle Green New Deal Resolution 31895 signed 8/12/2019; sections 6,7,and 11 http://clerk.seattle.gov/search/resolutions/31895 
5. Seattle OSE webpage on building performance standards https://www.seattle.gov/environment/climate-change/buildings-and-energy/building-performance-standards
6. Seattle 2035, Comprehensive Plan Managing Growth to Become an Equitable and Sustainable City 2015–2035, Transportation Appendix Figure A-11  http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/OPCD/OngoingInitiatives/SeattlesComprehensivePlan/CouncilAdopted2020.pdf
7. http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/document-library/citywide-plans/modal-plans/pedestrian-master-plan
8. https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/document-library/citywide-plans/modal-plans/bicycle-master-plan
9. http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/OSE/ClimateDocs/TE/Final%20Transportation%20Electrification%20Blueprint.pdf
10. http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/OSE/ClimateDocs/TE/SDOT_EVSE_Roadmap_for_Shared_Mobility_Hubs.pdf
11. https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/west-seattle-ballard-link-extensions/timeline-milestones