Addressing climate change

In 2007, King County developed a Climate Change Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to projected climate change impacts. In order to meet this goal, Public Health is doing its part to review internal practices to reduce our ecological impact and prevent further global warming as well as promote practices in the community to reduce emissions.

What you can do In Washington State, transportation accounts for 47% of our greenhouse gas emissions, therefore we must reduce our vehicle miles traveled. Here are some additional steps you can take to protect yourself and others from climate change: PLANT AND MAINTAIN TREES Find out how to get free trees for your neighborhood! MEASURE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT Find out what your carbon footprint is and learn how to reduce it in small ways. DRIVE LESS Commit to taking one less trip per week in your car; instead use public transportation, telecommute, walk or bike to work, walk to run errands, carpool with neighbors or co-workers or consolidate trips. SUPPORT "GREEN INITIATIVES" Support mass transportation, urban investment and dense development in key areas. REDUCE WASTE Less is more; use reusable shopping bags, buy local, purchase in bulk and reduce your use of electricity and water (tip: unplug all appliances when not in use). Save money!

	How Environmental Health Can Address Global Climate Change (PDF) Article by Hilary Karasz and Ngozi Oleru, Public Health - Seattle & King County Environmental Health practice is in a position to document and respond to the impacts of climate change, and also to provide solutions to near-term and long-term problems.
	HealthScape HealthScape is King County's effort to promote public health and reduce CO2 emissions by improving how communities are built. We are continuing to build on the work begun with the LUTAQH (Land Use, Transportation, Air Quality and Health) study, and our focus remains the same.
	Form-Based Code King County's Department of Development and Environmental Services is conducting a project to examine the feasibility of replacing the current conventional land use code with a Form-Based Code, which focuses on the public space while encouraging important public policy objectives such as health.
	Green Purchasing Policy Public Health – Seattle & King County is working to examine internal purchasing practices to reduce our environmental impact and favor products which are local, use recycled products, use less packaging, etc.
	Executive's Action Group on Climate Change In response to the 2007 King County Climate Plan representatives from across departments within King County joined forces to address climate change through a wide array of means. Each department brings a unique perspective and expertise to the table making for a dynamic and prolific team.
	Public Health's Climate Change Team To meet the three goals set out in the 2007 King County Climate Plan, Environmental Health Division will lead a department effort to reduce environmental impact and develop creative ways to promote environmental stewardship in the community and raise awareness about the effects of climate change.
	Environmental Health's Climate Change Team The Environmental Health Division is exploring and implementing strategies to promote environmentally friendly practices in our own policies and and also providing resources to our customers on actions they are able to take to save money and play an active role in curbing climate change.

• King County Climate Change Response
  
  
• King County Global Warming Initiative
  King County government is delivering green job training opportunities and numerous county initiatives that are reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to the county's second annual Climate Report.
  
  
• The Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment
  The Climate Impacts Group, University of Washington, launched an unprecedented assessment of climate change impacts on Washington State in July 2007.
  
  
• Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional and State Governments
  Local, regional and state government leaders were given this tool in September 2007 to help them plan for climate change impacts, such as an increased risk of drought and flooding, new diseases, and invasive species that are harmful to humans and the environment.
  
  
• Washington State's Climate Action Plan
  Washington State is addressing climate change because its impacts go far beyond a change in the weather. Climate shapes everything — ecosystems, crops, water, economy, lifestyles, health — so even small changes can have big impacts.

• Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  Extensive research on the connection between climate change and public health.
  
  
• U.S. Green Building Council, LEED
  Information on how built environment has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health, and productivity.
  
  
• The Environmental Protection Agency
  Find a number of tools and resources to calculate greenhouse gas emissions, strategies at home and work, strategies for transportation, and information on the science of climate change.
  
  
• Transportation for America
  Transportation for America has formed a broad coalition of housing, environmental, public health, urban planning, transportation, equitable development, and other organizations seeking to align national, state, and local transportation policies with an array of issues like economic opportunity, climate change, energy security, health, housing and community development.

• Climate Change: A New Challenge for Public Health, Gregg Grunenfelder
  The head of Washington State's Division of Environmental Health outlines the ways in which climate change could affect public health in the Northwest and suggests three strategies to reduce the impacts.
  
  
• Climate Change: A Public Health Framework, Howard Frumkin and George Luber
  Two authors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention propose a public health approach to climate change, based on the essential public health services.
  
  
• The New Generation of Practitioners, Darrah K. Kauhane-Floerke
  Graduate and undergraduate students have an interest in global health that might serve them well in their careers, as they approach emerging diseases and other issues related to climate change.
  
  
• Climate Change and Communicable Diseases in the Northwest, Paul Cieslak and Mel Kohn
  Climate change may affect communicable diseases seen in the Northwest from cryptococcosis to West Nile encephalitis. What should be our response?