Guiding Principles for Pierce County's Sustainability 2030 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan The following guiding principles were identified to ensure that Pierce County remains aware of the connections between these principles and our desired greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction actions. These six guiding principles were applied to develop the GHG reduction actions.
Economic Opportunity
Fiscal Responsibility
Vibrant Communities
Equity
Innovation
Accountability
Embedding Equity Frontline communities are those who face historical and current inequities in multiple ways,
whether by being confronted with systemic barriers, being historically underserved, or both. These communities include those who are and will be disproportionately burdened by climate change, often experiencing the first and most acute impacts.
Pierce County recognizes the importance of ensuring
frontline communities are included in the
prioritization, implementation and future updates of Pierce County’s Sustainability 2030 Plan. While we all experience the impacts of climate change, we are not affected equally. To reduce GHGs in Pierce County, we are committed to ensuring that these changes result in a more equitable Pierce County. This includes understanding which communities are most threatened by degraded environmental conditions and climate impacts (see map). Centering equity in our efforts to reduce GHGs also means running each communitywide Plan action through an equity assessment, and centering frontline communities in Plan engagement and implementation (see Appendix 3). The benefits of GHG emissions reduction are abundant and should be experienced by all, and this is how we work towards equitable distribution.
The Washington State Health Department’s Environmental Health Disparities Map is an interactive tool that compares communities across the state. High ranking areas face greater environmental health hazards and have less resources than lower ranked areas. This tool provides insights into where public investments can be prioritized so that everyone can benefit from clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment. 5
