Following protest, Thurston Climate Plan head thanks youth activists, lays out county's actions on climate change

Thurston County leaders appreciate the climate youth activists who staged a die-in protest during the previous Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting on February 14, according to Climate Mitigation Senior Program Manager Rebecca Harvey.

During the BOCC meeting on February 28, Harvey said the county is "lucky to have these activists working hard to preserve a livable future for all of us."

Harvey pointed out that, contrary to the activists’ allegations, the county is at work in implementing its climate mitigation plan across all its businesses.

Climate mitigation actions are happening

"Implementation is happening as climate mitigation strategies and actions are integrated into departmental work plans across the county government," said Harvey.

Harvey cited several examples.  These included purchasing electric vehicles and upgrading lighting fixtures in some public areas with more efficient LED replacements. In 2022,  it retrofitted two dorms at the Corrections Facility, Building 5 of the Courthouse Campus, and 70 streetlights along Martin Way.

She added that the Public Works Department is enhancing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, working to reduce food waste, and improving the efficiency of water and wastewater treatment systems.

In July last year, the county started its Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy + Resilience (C-PACER) Program for commercial properties which will help commercial property owners to finance qualifying energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and resiliency improvements for their buildings.

Thurston County also updated its telework policy “to support remote work options and reduce emissions from daily commuting,” the report read.

According to the report, the county also continued to preserve land for agriculture, forestry, wildlife habitat, and recreation through its “conservation incentive programs.” Last year, the program included 184 acres acquired or placed under a conservation easement.

The county is also working on updating land use policies, administering its habitat conservation program, and streamlining processes to promote solar energy adoption, Harvey explained.

Still more work to do

"There is a lot of work to do," said Harvey. "We need to accelerate the implementation of the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan."

According to the latest Thurston Climate Mitigation Progress Report, the region's estimated carbon footprint in 2021 was 2.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Following a significant drop in 2020, emissions climbed by 4% as many activities rebounded from pandemic-related closures.