Climate Action Plan

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The CAP was adopted on April 4, 2023. Please visit www.mercerisland.gov/sustainability for information about implementation and projects. 

The City of Mercer Island has completed its first ever Climate Action Plan (CAP) to guide the government, business, and household actions needed to reduce the community’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and protect our environment.

This page was used for the public engagement components of the process, such as gathering feedback via public comment, online surveys, and Q&A. It also provides easy access to documents and presentations that supported the plan drafting.

The City used a range of other outreach tools such as workshops, pop-up events, and public meetings throughout the 16-month CAP process, and the CAP was adopted on 4 April, 2023. Now the City will turn to implementing the first Early Actions, and seeking additional funding.

Read our 2-page explainer summarizing the CAP process.

To learn more about CAP next steps, climate change in general, and to view GHG tracking information, visit the main CAP website at www.mercerisland.gov/CAP

The City of Mercer Island has completed its first ever Climate Action Plan (CAP) to guide the government, business, and household actions needed to reduce the community’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and protect our environment.

This page was used for the public engagement components of the process, such as gathering feedback via public comment, online surveys, and Q&A. It also provides easy access to documents and presentations that supported the plan drafting.

The City used a range of other outreach tools such as workshops, pop-up events, and public meetings throughout the 16-month CAP process, and the CAP was adopted on 4 April, 2023. Now the City will turn to implementing the first Early Actions, and seeking additional funding.

Read our 2-page explainer summarizing the CAP process.

To learn more about CAP next steps, climate change in general, and to view GHG tracking information, visit the main CAP website at www.mercerisland.gov/CAP

The CAP was adopted on April 4, 2023. Please visit www.mercerisland.gov/sustainability for information about implementation and projects. 

Do you have a question related to the CAP?  Please submit your question here, and staff will provide a response for all to see. (You can also learn more about the background of the CAP, climate change, and greenhouse gases at the main CAP project page.)

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    What category do construction trucks come under? And what is "ground transportation?" And where can we find the carbon emissions that light-duty trucks, medium-duty trucks, heavy-duty trucks give off versus our vehicles? What gives off more emissions?

    fletchsa1 asked about 1 year ago

    Construction trucks, and other heavy-duty or medium-duty trucks, along with passenger vehicles, are all grouped into "ground transportation" emissions (28% on-road, and 3% off-road). The data source used for these emissions comes from the PSRC's regional transportation model, and is an estimate of vehicle miles traveled per year within MI's borders -- this means that it includes vehicles that are just on Mercer Island temporarily, such as construction equipment. Large trucks are generally more polluting than private passenger vehicles.

    Regards, Ross Freeman, Sustainability Office

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    What percent of Mercer Island’s Green Waste is taken to local composing sites like Cedar Grove? I asked this question to Recology but never received an answer. I spoke with a Cedar Grove rep at a recycling fair earlier this year and she said very little of MI’s green waste stays local and most is trucked on the highways to a composting station near Stanwood.

    Lori K asked over 1 year ago

    The percentage taken to Cedar Grove (Maple Valley) vs Lenz Composting (Stanwood) varies every week depending on capacity and market factors, etc. After weighing, Mercer Island's yard/food waste is actually combined with other cities at a Seattle facility for greater transport efficiency, and then sent in bulk to either compost company.   Earlier in the year, the majority was sent to Lenz, but for the most recent 4 months, 100% has been going to Cedar Grove.

    Regards, Ross Freeman, Sustainability Office

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    When are leaf blowers going to be banned? The noise and air pollution are real problems.

    leaf blowers are the devil asked over 1 year ago

    Transitioning leaf blowers from gas to electric is one of the draft actions under consideration in the current CAP process. It is not a "ban" but electric models would greatly reduce air and noise complaints. Residents wiere asked about leaf blowers in the recent CAP survey (results due Nov 15), and will also be able to weigh in on all proposed GHG actions when the draft CAP document is published in a few months.

    Regards, Ross Freeman, Sustainability Office