TagGreenhouse gases(31)

This August 2022 report by Cascadia Consulting Group analyzes greenhouse gas emissions across King County, Washington, examining where emissions come from, what is driving trends over time, and how the county can meet its climate goals. The report covers sectors including transportation, electricity, natural gas, solid waste, and land use, tracking data from multiple inventory years and comparing per-capita emissions across jurisdictions. It also models future emissions scenarios to assess the impact of federal, state, and regional policies on reaching reduction targets through 2050.

A presentation by Tim Johnson of the Aviation Environment Federation, delivered at the Aviation Noise & Emission Symposium in February 2021, examines what civil society expects from a green recovery in the aviation sector. It highlights growing airline commitments to net-zero emissions by 2050, including pledges from British Airways, United Airlines, and others, while raising the question of whether 2019 may have been the peak year for aviation CO2 emissions. The talk explores the intersection of post-pandemic recovery and environmental accountability in the airline industry.

HB 1099 is a Washington State bill focused on improving the state's climate response by updating the Growth Management Act to require counties and cities to include climate change and resiliency planning in their comprehensive land use plans. The bill mandates reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled, and requires the Department of Commerce to publish guidelines for achieving statewide emissions targets. It also addresses coastal resilience by requiring Shoreline Master Programs to account for sea level rise and increased storm severity.

This January 2021 report from the Washington State Department of Ecology tracks greenhouse gas emissions across Washington State from 1990 to 2018. Published by the Air Quality Program, it provides a comprehensive inventory of the state's emissions data over nearly three decades. Note that this document focuses on statewide air quality and climate data and does not specifically address Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

The Puget Sound Regional Emissions Analysis is a King County-led project launched in 2021 to comprehensively measure greenhouse gas emissions across King, Kitsap, Snohomish, and Pierce counties. The project covers multiple types of emissions inventories—including community activities, consumption of goods and services, and government operations—while also modeling pathways to reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. It incorporates social equity principles to address disproportionate environmental impacts on communities of color.

A 2021 scientific study found that global aviation contributes a small but meaningful share of human-caused climate change, primarily through carbon dioxide emissions and the formation of contrail clouds at high altitude. The research, covering the years 2000 to 2018, found that non-CO2 effects such as contrails account for roughly two-thirds of aviation's total warming impact. The findings are relevant to ongoing policy discussions about reducing the climate footprint of air travel.

The 'Cleaner, Quieter Airplanes Act,' introduced in the 116th Congress by Mr. Beyer, would require NASA to establish an initiative to develop and demonstrate new aircraft technologies capable of reducing both greenhouse gas emissions and noise emissions by at least 50 percent compared to the best-performing aircraft in service as of December 31, 2019. The bill responds to findings that aviation noise pollution is worsening in some communities as air traffic increases and performance-based navigation technology is adopted. It reflects a broader U.S. goal of carbon-neutral aviation growth from 2020 onward.

This 2018 report by Cascadia Consulting Group inventories greenhouse gas emissions across the Puget Sound region, covering sources such as transportation, buildings, industry, solid waste, water, and agriculture for the year 2015. It outlines the methodology, data sources, and findings used to measure the region's carbon footprint. While focused on regional air quality and climate impact, it provides context for understanding emissions contributors in the greater Seattle–Tacoma area.