6f. Motion
MOTION OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION TO BE A SIGNATORY TO THE "WE ARE STILL IN" OPEN LETTER DECLARING OUR COMMITMENT TO REDUCE THE THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE PROPOSED JUNE 27, 2017 TEXT OF THE MOTION The Port of Seattle intends to be a signatory to the "We Are Still In" Open letter to the international community and parties to the Paris Agreement declaring our intent to continue to ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in reducing carbon emissions. STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION The Port of Seattle 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 is committed to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while pursuing strategies to strengthen the region's competitive position and create new economic opportunities. Furthermore, in January 2016, the Port Commission established the Energy and Sustainability Policy Committee to develop and propose new environmental initiatives across the organization. The Port of Seattle, as a special purpose municipal corporation and a separate public agency from the City and County, will join signatories representing 125 cities, 9 states, 902 businesses and investors, and 183 colleges and universities. The letter reads as follows: We, the undersigned mayors, governors, college and university leaders, investors and businesses, are joining forces for the first time to declare that we will continue to support climate action to meet the Paris Agreement. In December 2015 in Paris, world leaders signed the first global commitment to fight climate change. The landmark agreement succeeded where past attempts failed because it allowed each country to set its own emission reduction targets and adopt its own strategies for reaching them. In addition, nations inspired by the actions of local and regional governments, along with businesses came to recognize that fighting climate change brings significant economic and public health benefits. Page 1 of 2 The Trump administration's announcement undermines a key pillar in the fight against climate change and damages the world's ability to avoid the most dangerousand costly effects of climate change. Importantly, it is also out of step with what is happening in the United States. In the U.S., it is local and state governments, along with businesses, that are primarily responsible for the dramatic decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in recent years. Actions by each group will multiply and accelerate in the years ahead, no matter what policies Washington may adopt. In the absence of leadership from Washington, states, cities, colleges and universities and businesses representing a sizeable percentage of the U.S. economy will pursue ambitious climate goals, working together to take forceful action and to ensure that the U.S. remains a global leader in reducing emissions. It is imperative that the world know that in the U.S., the actors that will provide the leadership necessary to meet our Paris commitment are found in city halls, state capitals, colleges and universities, investors and businesses. Together, we will remain actively engaged with the international community as part of the global effort to hold warming to well below 2C and to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy that will benefit our security, prosperity, and health. Page 2 of 2
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