MOTION 
OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION 
ESTABLISHING AN ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
POLICY COMMITTEE AND PROVIDING POLICY
DIRECTION TO SAID COMMITTEE 
ADOPTED 
JANUARY 26, 2016 

TEXT OF THE MOTION 
The Port of Seattle is committed to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while pursuing
strategies to strengthen the region's competitive position and create new economic opportunities.
The Port supports efforts by the international community, the United States, the State of
Washington, King County, and Seattle to reduce the threat of climate change. 
The Port of Seattle Commission hereby establishes an Energy and Sustainability Policy
Committee and charges it to develop and propose to the Commission for consideration and
adoption policy directives that include: 
(1) Incentivizing  and  supporting  strategies  for  maritime  and  aviation  industries  and
associations not included in the Paris Accord to hasten the reduction of greenhouse gas
reductions; 
(2) Considering greenhouse gas emissions when evaluating Port projects and competing
business proposals; 
(3) Providing guidelines to Port staff on consideration/inclusion of energy efficiency and onsite
green  energy  generation  for  all  Port  major  maintenance  projects  and  capital
improvements; and 
(4) Consulting with managing members of the Northwest Seaport Alliance to determine how
such considerations can be applied to the jointly managed maritime assets of the Alliance. 

STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION 
The 195 countries of the Conference of Parties (COP21) in Paris on December 12, 2015, reached
a landmark climate accord that will, for the first time, commit nearly every country to lowering
planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions to help stave off the most drastic effects of climate
change.

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The Port of Seattle, as a leader in international trade with a commitment to environmental
stewardship, is uniquely positioned to support the international agreement and take actions to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
Climate change will have disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged communities living in close
proximity to industrial areas, transportation corridors, and other sources of greenhouse gas
emissions. A transition to a clean energy economy can create jobs throughout the region,
including within disadvantaged communities. 
The Port of Seattle, as the "Green Gateway" for trade, can be a strong partner with other ports
and Washington business, government,  and community organizations to turn our worldrenowned
ingenuity and start-up culture toward boosting efficiency, increasing the share of safe,
clean, and renewable energy sources and other new economy solutions. 
Ports can serve as stewards of air and water resources by being powerful advocates  leveraging
their  economic  and  political  resources  to  build  and  finance  the  infrastructure  for  a  clean
economy. 
The Port of Seattle has taken many actions to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG), including
adoption of the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, which has a goal to reduce GHG emissions
by 20 percent per ton of cargo moved through our Seaport by 2020. At the Airport, the Port
requires an all-green taxi fleet, electric ground support equipment, and provides preconditioned
air to reduce airplane idling at the terminal.  It is also working to evaluate the ability to provide
biofuels for airlines and has joined the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) commitment to
improve air transport fuel efficiency and achieve carbon neutral growth from 2020. 
While the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has taken steps to reduce GHG emissions,
and the International Civil Aviation Organization is expected to adopt new carbon emission
standards for aircraft in 2016, the Paris Accord does not include greenhouse gas emissions
reduction goals from ships and airplanes. 







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