From:            Tyrell Hedlund
To:                Commission-Public-Records
Subject:           [EXTERNAL] Public Comment Agenda Item 9a
Date:              Monday, October 26, 2020 2:55:41 PM

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Commissioners,
I am writing to comment on Agenda Item 9a, your 2021 legislative priorities. In 2017, about
9.5% of Washington state's CO2 emissions were from aviation. However, if the total climate
impact of these emissions is taken into account, aviation is responsible for nearly a quarter of
Washington's contribution to atmospheric warming. And according to the Port's Sustainable
Airport Master Plan, it appears that the Port intends to invest billions of dollars in
infrastructure to accommodate a doubling of air traffic at Sea-Tac, leading to even greater
climate destruction.
But, one of Port's stated priorities is to reduce--and ultimately eliminate--greenhouse gas
emissions. However, the agenda doesn't include a plan to address the increased aviation
activity, the largest driver of emissions. If the Port doesn't address this, overall emissions will
continue to increase despite incremental efforts such as promoting aviation biofuels and
increasing building energy efficiency.
Recently, 20 scientists published a paper in the journal Atmospheric Environment, describing
the non CO2 impacts of aviation emissions. The major finding of the paper: That, on
average, the CO2 impact of burning jet fuel must be tripled to account for its total
climate impact.
If reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the climate is truly one of the Port's
priorities, it must act boldly.
Tyrell Hedlund
South Seattle