The City of Seattle could cut its per-capita greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 percent by 2020 and up to 90 percent by 2050 by implementing an aggressive set of climate strategies in its transportation, building energy and waste sectors, a report commissioned by the City shows.
Getting to Zero: A Pathway to a Carbon Neutral Seattle, a report developed by Stockholm Environment Institute, evaluated the emissions reduction potential of a range of strategies including increased transit service, expanded bike and pedestrian infrastructure, increased building efficiency and switching from fossil fuels to less carbon-intensive alternatives. Seattle is currently considering formally adopting a climate protection goal of zero net emissions by 2050 and this report was developed to explore the technical feasibility of that goal. Through the city’s climate action planning process, city staff and sector experts will also consider economic and political factors and recommend actions to move the city toward this goal. The planning process will start in the fall with the final action plan anticipated to be complete by next summer.
Carbon Neutral Analysis Documents
Getting to Zero: A Pathway to a Carbon Neutral Seattle
Technical Appendix (documenting the approach and assumptions for the analysis)
Presentation for City Council briefing on Carbon Neutral Analysis