11a. Memo
2023 Environment and Sustainability Annual Report
COMMISSION AGENDA MEMORANDUM Item No. 11a BRIEFING ITEM Date of Meeting June 11, 2024 DATE: May 24, 2024 TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director FROM: Sandra Kilroy, Senior Director, Environment and Sustainability Mallory Hauser, Sustainability Reporting and Communications Manager SUBJECT: 2023 Environment and Sustainability Annual Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This year, the Port of Seattle achieved significant progress on our ambitious environmental and sustainability goals. We're building a greener, more resilient port through a comprehensive strategy focused on five key pillars: (1) Leadership: Influencing environmental policy and actions locally, nationally, and internationally. (2) Partnerships: Collaborating with stakeholders to tackle complex challenges. (3) Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing clear information to guide our actions. (4) Investment: Directing resources toward sustainable practices. (5) Community Engagement and Equity: Working closely with our neighbors to ensure a just and sustainable future. As an organization focused on opportunity, sustainability, and equity, we achieve this by working collaboratively with others who share our vision. Several factors influence how we approach sustainability. Environmental challenges are becoming increasingly complex which demand innovative solutions. It is critical to engage our communities and focus on environmental justice. Partnerships are crucial for tackling these challenges. Climate change requires urgent action. These drivers inform our overall strategy, which emphasizes leadership, partnerships, datadriven decision making, investments, environmental justice, and community engagement. The Port boasts a comprehensive set of environmental and sustainability initiatives across air, water, land, and community. We work to influence change locally and globally, establishing ourselves as a leader for the entire aviation and maritime sectors. We recognize our work contributes to Template revised April 12, 2018. COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 11a Page 2 of 6 Meeting Date: June 11, 2024 global change and our strategies support progress toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This annual report presentation serves a dual purpose: (1) Celebrating Achievements: We'll showcase our comprehensive environmental and sustainability programs, highlighting significant accomplishments made in 2023. (2) Tracking Long-Term Goals: We've documented progress towards long -term goals through a set of performance metrics (both qualitative and quantitative). These metrics, tracked annually, demonstrate our commitment towards goals outlined in the Century Agenda, regional agreements, and our own programmatic initiatives. Starting this year, a formal annual report detailing our progress will be available on the Port's website. This report highlights some of our accomplishments, but it's not exhaustive. Sustainability is a collaborative effort, and we're grateful for the contributions of our Port leadership, teams, tenants, and community partners. We remain committed to driving positive change throughout the maritime and aviation sectors, ensuring a healthy environment for all. BACKGROUND The Port of Seattle's employees are a powerhouse of expertise. Teams work together to develop and maintain programs tackling critical issues like decarbonization, habitat restoration, remediation, water quality, waste reduction, noise reduction and sustainable infrastructure. This commitment is reflected in the Port's ambitious goals outlined in the Century Agenda, a 25- year strategic plan adopted in 2012. The Century Agenda serves as a compass, guiding decisionmaking and setting a clear course for a greener future. Notably, Goal 4 focuses on environmental leadership, with the Port aiming to become the greenest and most energy-efficient port in North America. Century Agenda Goal 4: Be the greenest and most energy-efficient port in North America • Objective 9: Meet all increased energy needs through conservation and renewable sources • Objective 10: Meet or exceed agency requirements for stormwater leaving Port-owned or operated facilities • Objective 11: Reduce air pollutants and carbon emissions • Objective 12: Restore, create, and enhance 40 additional acres of habitat in the Green/Duwamish habitat KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Outlined in the 2023 annual environment and sustainability report are eleven key areas with quantitative and qualitative data points demonstrating our progress toward environment and sustainability goals. Template revised September 22, 2016. COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 11a Page 3 of 6 Meeting Date: June 11, 2024 Category Summary 2023 Highlights Charting the The Port of Seattle takes a multi- We achieved a 50% reduction in Course to Zero pronged approach to tackling Port-wide Scope 1&2 GHG (Climate) climate change and improving air emissions from the 2005 baseline -- quality. Decarbonization is a core - meeting our 2030 goal seven focus, with initiatives like switching years early thanks to the purchase to renewable natural gas for of renewable natural gas for both buildings and partnering on clean our aviation and maritime facilities. fuel research for maritime and aviation industries. The Port actively Signed Pacific Northwest to Alaska explores alternatives to traditional Green Corridor project charter and fossil fuels, aiming to reduce developed scope for green reliance on them across its methanol feasibility study. operations. Additionally, electrification is a key strategy. The Completed the MSW to SAF study Port is constantly seeking innovative with King County. solutions to minimize air pollution and contribute to a cleaner future. Stewarding The Port is voluntarily taking action We formalized land management Healthy Lands to restore critical habitat and practices through the adoption of and Habitat increase public access for our Land Stewardship Principles. communities. we are creating a lasting legacy of stewardship that Over 2,500 chum and chinook fosters the health of our salmon returned to the Duwamish communities and region for River's Peoples Park, a testament generations to come. Our work to our restoration efforts. supports the survival and recovery of critical species like salmon and We've also restored kelp beds, orcas, while also enhancing the stabilized shoreline, and planted health of our communities through over 13,000 trees and shrubs. improved environmental quality and enriching recreational opportunities like waterfront parks, inland creeks, and marinas. Cleaning Up The Port of Seattle transforms Significant progress was made with Contaminated historically polluted areas into investigations at seven terminals Lands healthy lands near our airport and and Port locations, including East waterfront, fostering economic Waterway, Terminal 25, and growth and environmental Terminal 91. SEA Airport’s former stewardship. United-Continental Fuel Farm Site clean-up was completed. Reducing Waste Operating a major airport and We are close to our 60% diversion seaport means there can be a lot of goal for SEA Airport terminals Template revised September 22, 2016. COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 11a Page 4 of 6 Meeting Date: June 11, 2024 waste. The airport alone is a 24/7 (48%) and maritime facilities operation that serves over 50 (56.5%). million passengers a year and has 20,000 employees who work there. New SEA requirements mandate It is akin to managing a city, reusable or compostable options at including the need to manage all the all retail and dining locations, waste. The Port actively works to taking effect in July 2024. embrace the call to “reduce, reuse and recycle” in all our facilities. We've further bolstered our waste reduction efforts by implementing AI-powered waste sorting machines. Building Building infrastructure that is Efficiently handled environmental Resilient and sustainable and resilient in the long reviews and permits, supporting Sustainable term is important for financial 266 active maritime and aviation Infrastructure stewardship, community affects, projects in 2023. and environmental protection. We need to stop the causes of climate Through the Sustainable Evaluation change while at the same time we Framework process, we reviewed can control and prepare for the 140 capital projects, resulting in possible impacts. The Port of Seattle three completed sustainable design aims to build and maintain its strategies. facilities in a smart, sustainable way to ensure they function for our community well into the future. Protecting Port of Seattle implements We protected water quality Water Quality programs and processes, through stormwater management collaborates with our tenants, and and met all permit requirements in invests in innovative treatment 2023. SEA Airport retained its technologies to ensure we avoid or Salmon-Safe certification, and we minimize any effects on the health made significant progress (33%) of Puget Sound and foster a clean toward our 75% target for and vibrant marine environment. rehabilitating our maritime stormwater system. Lessening the Seattle-Tacoma International Completed or made progress in Impact of Airport (SEA) was one of the first insulating 8 single-family homes, Aircraft Noise airports in the country to establish a 320 apartment units, 3 places of noise mitigation program. Since worship, and the final 3 units in a 1985 the Port has been delivering a condominium complex. comprehensive Airport Noise Additionally, we partnered with the Program to minimize noise pollution FAA and a local school district to around the airport. The program has upgrade schools for noise three main components: residential Template revised September 22, 2016. COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 11a Page 5 of 6 Meeting Date: June 11, 2024 sound insulation projects, airline reduction, with the 11th school collaboration and recognition, and receiving voter approval in 2023. community engagement. Engaging Our Recognizing that a healthy We hosted or participated in over Community environment is vital for both the 60 community stewardship events port and surrounding communities, and learning opportunities, the Port of Seattle prioritizes including Duwamish Alive!, NWSA collaborative environmental Truck and Bike Safety Fair, and stewardship. Through education StormFest. and outreach programs, the Port empowers near-port residents and regional communities to participate in decision-making and advocate for environmental well-being. This commitment to community engagement fosters trust, empowers informed decisionmaking , and harnesses the power of collective action for a more sustainable future. Practicing The Port actively advances Equity, Supported strong WMBE Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) contracting goal. Created an Diversity, and through its environmental environmental justice manager. Inclusion programs. This includes prioritizing Awarded $150,000 in business inclusion programs that environmental grants. Utilized the empower diverse-owned equity index in environmental businesses, fostering green job program planning. creation, and providing a pathway to economic opportunity for residents, with a particular focus on under-represented communities. Additionally, the Port champions environmental justice initiatives that address historical disparities in environmental burdens. Awards and Throughout the year, we've strived We participate in Green Marine, a Recognition to implement innovative solutions program for continuous and collaborate with stakeholders improvement in environmental to achieve our sustainability goals. performance within the maritime These awards and industry, ranking 5 (the highest acknowledgements represent the score) in nearly all categories. dedication and hard work of our team and partners, and further Template revised September 22, 2016. COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 11a Page 6 of 6 Meeting Date: June 11, 2024 motivate us to continue on the path The Duwamish River People’s Park of environmental stewardship and and Habitat and Shoreline Habitat community engagement. was a finalist for the IAPH Sustainability Award in the environmental care category. ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING (1) Presentation slides PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS None Template revised September 22, 2016.
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