Item Number:        8b_reso 
Meeting Date:     November 19, 2019


1                                        RESOLUTION NO. 3768 
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3             A RESOLUTION of the Port of Seattle directing the Executive to implement the
4                                        Sustainable Evaluation Framework Policy Directive. 
5 
6             WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle in the Century Agenda commits to create economic
7     opportunity  for  all,  steward  our  environment  responsibly,  partner  with  surrounding
8     communities, institutions, governments and businesses, to promote social responsibility, to
9     conduct ourselves transparently, and to hold ourselves accountable; and 
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11            WHEREAS, the urgency of the climate crisis drives the need for innovative and far-
12    reaching solutions; and 
13            WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle Commission is committed to reducing our carbon
14    footprint by in vesting in solutions to become the greenest and most efficient port in the
15    nation and we are further committed to assisting and incentivizing those we do business to 
16    reach these goals; and 
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18            WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle has been a leader in assessing greenhouse gas emissions
19    associated with capital projects and operations, and implementing mitigation strategies that
20    reduce emissions that contribute to climate change; and 
21            WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle Commission unanimously chartered the Energy and
22    Sustainability Committee by motion on January 26, 2016 tasking the Committee primarily to
23    develop and propose policy directives to guide the Port of Seattle's greenhouse gas (GHG)
24    emissions  reductions  effort,  with  a  focus  on  energy  efficiency  and  alternative  energy
25    generation; and 
26 
27            WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle Commission set ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse
28    gas emissions in alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement and other regional governments;
29    and 
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31            WHEREAS, by 2050, the port committed to make its directly controlled emissions
32    carbon neutral and to reduce its indirectly controlled sourced by 80 percent. We also have a
33    short-term goal in 2020 to reduce direct emissions by 15% and a medium-term goal to reduce
34    direct and indirect emissions by 50. We are currently negotiating the purchase of renewable
35    natural gas that could get us to our 2030 goals in 2020; and 
36 
37            WHEREAS,  the  Port  of  Seattle  Commission  adopted  recommendations  of  the
38    Committee  on  December  19,  2017,  directing  staff  to  develop  a  Sustainability  Project

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39    Framework to assist the port in meeting its greenhouse gas reduction and sustainability goals 
40    by integrating sustainability considerations into key Port decisions is essential to achieving the
41    Port's long-term environmental and sustainability goals; and 
42 
43            WHEREAS, integrating sustainability into capital and operational decisions early in the
44    process building can reduce or eliminate negative environmental impacts, and can create
45    positive impacts on our climate and natural environment; and
46 
47            WHEREAS,  the  Sustainability  Project  Framework  is  also  intended  to  increase
48    transparency for the public and Port leadership regarding energy and sustainability related
49    decision making on Port projects; and 
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51            WHEREAS,  transparency for the public is a bedrock principle of this policy,  the
52    Commission will review in public alternatives and trade-offs that describe how a project can
53    meet its GHG and sustainability goals; and 
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55            WHEREAS, to further support transparency the Commission will review in public how
56    those sustainability goals are being accomplished and annually review upcoming large projects
57    that will likely come for authorization in any given year; and 
58 
59            WHEREAS,  the policy will  give the Port Commission  the ability to transparently
60    authorize sustainability decisions for capital, operational decisions, procurement and leases by
61    considering short term financial implications and long term environmental and societal
62    benefits; and 
63 
64            WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle's focus on equity issues obligates the Port to consider its
65    impact on society and to collaborate with communities to promote diversity, inclusion, and
66    equity; 
67 
68            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Port of Seattle Commission: 
69 
70    The Port of Seattle hereby directs the Executive  Director  to implement the Sustainable
71    Evaluation Framework Policy Directive attached as Exhibit A. 
72 
73            ADOPTED by the Port of Seattle Commission at a duly noticed public meeting thereof, 
74    held this      ______  day   of    _______________________________  ,  2019,  and  duly 
75    authenticated in open session by the signatures of the commissioners voting in favor thereof
76    and the seal of the commission. 
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88                                                       Port of Seattle Commission


















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