View source for Talk:Portland, OR and Multnomah County Global Warming Action Plan

April 2001

Dear Friends,

It is impossible to overstate the importance of global warming. No other issue threatens our planet with such dramatic, far-reaching impacts, and no other issue is so clearly a worldwide problem. At the same time, many of the most promising solutions to global warming are local initiatives that we can control.

The City of Portland and Multnomah County developed this plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the
Portland area. The City of Portland has been a leader among local governments in combating global warming
and in 1993 became the first local government in the U.S. to adopt a greenhouse gas-reduction plan. This
new joint plan for the City of Portland and Multnomah County represents an important step forward for
both organizations and makes clear that all governments—and all citizens—have a responsibility to address
global climate change.

There is no time to lose. The scientific consensus expects substantial changes not only in temperature but in rainfall patterns, water supply, snow levels, forest health, local air quality, and sea level. These changes are not in the distant future but are in evidence now:

· Eighteen glaciers in Glacier National Park have melted in the last 30 years, and the park is expected
to have no glaciers by 2070 if temperatures continue to rise as projected.

· Sea level has risen four to 10 inches over the last century, and low-lying islands in the Pacific Ocean
have already been covered.

· Since 1900 temperatures in the Pacific Northwest have increased 1.5º F and precipitation has
increased 14 percent.

Portland City Council and Multnomah County Board of Commissioners have established a goal of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions to 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2010. Achieving this goal will require action by government, businesses, and individuals. We know what causes global warming, and the steps to combat it
are clear: reduce the use of fossil fuels. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions doesn’t have to be difficult. In almost every case, it’s good for the family budget and for the local economy.

We encourage you to join us in taking action on both a personal and a policy level. We will continue to
examine local government activities to identify areas where we can reduce emissions from City and County
operations. Please take an equally serious look at your own actions and search for ways to reduce emissions
from your own activities. Every reduction matters, no matter how small.

Thank you for your interest in this vital issue.

Erik Sten 
City Commissioner 

Bill Farver
Interim County Chair