Upholding Tribal Treaty Rights

It is our intent to start this plan in a good way, a right way.

We recognize that the land now identified as Pierce County has for thousands of years been the traditional territory and home for the Puyallup Tribe, the Nisqually Tribe, the Squaxin Island Tribe, and the Muckleshoot Tribe. Today, this land is still home to these four federally-recognized tribes. These Tribal governments are sovereign Nations, and their sovereignty is an inherent right that has existed since time immemorial, recognized with a government-to-government relationship by the United States. We respectfully recognize the Puyallup, Nisqually, Squaxin Island, and Muckleshoot people as past, present and future guardians of this land both culturally and legally, as evidenced by their respective treaties, which is the supreme law of the land.

These four federally-recognized Tribes in Pierce County have always prioritized the sustainability of their people and the ecology around them. Today Tribal governments have their own sustainability programs and initiatives with goals and standards that often exceed County, State, and National guidelines. We will work to ensure our sustainability efforts complement and support the sustainability work of the Tribes around us.

In the past, treaties were broken, and tribes were systematically excluded from government decision-making and made to feel invisible. In this plan we commit to working alongside Tribal Nations as co-managers of the land, plants, and animals and actively acknowledging and protecting their treaty rights.

We commit to always saving a seat at the table for Tribal representation and being willing to receive feedback regarding our sustainability and carbon emission reduction work. While this will not heal the injustices of the past, we hope a collaborative and inclusive working relationship will serve as an example of how County departments can productively engage with and involve Tribal Nations.

Introduction

Our rapidly changing climate is affecting every resident in Pierce County. As the frequency of wildfires, extreme heat events, and flooding increase, we see the impact of pollution and rising temperatures on public health, critical species like salmon, and economic resources. These adverse impacts also disproportionately affect our most vulnerable and under-served neighbors. In 2021, Pierce County Council and Executive Dammeier took bold action in the passage of Sustainability 2030: Pierce County’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan (Sustainability 2030 Plan) to provide a sustainable future for generations of Pierce County residents to come. We must continue to act in response to fossil fuel pollution and climate change with urgency and the best available science.

The Sustainability 2030 Plan aligns with the State of Washington’s climate commitments and seeks to reduce climate change-causing greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030 based on a 2015 baseline. The first update to the Sustainability 2030 Plan considers what has been accomplished in the past two years, new information about where County greenhouse gas emissions are coming from, and what is most important to our communities. This 2023 update edits original actions and divides our focus areas into two groups:

Community Focus Areas:

+ Energy and the Built Environment

+ Transportation

+ Waste Reduction

+ Nature-based Climate Solutions

+ Education and Outreach

+ Growing Community Capacity

Municipal Focus Areas:

+ Buildings and Fleet Energy

+ Commute Trip Reduction

+ County Waste System

+ Education and Equitable Practices

The Sustainability 2030 Plan continues to provide a road-map of measurable and science-based actions for reducing community-wide emissions and internal County operational emissions. The next Plan update will occur in 2025 for the 2026-27 biennial budget cycle. The Plan is a living document and revisions are made every two years or as necessary.

Continuing to implement the Plan will require ongoing collaboration and partnership between County departments, community partners, residents, and businesses in order to reach our greenhouse gas reduction goal. Together, we can make a difference today and for future generations!