Seattle is a city at the forefront of green initiatives. The Office of Sustainability and Environment's mission is to accelerate environmentally sustainable practices by the City government and in the community at-large. The office collaborates with City departments, business partners, non-profit and community-based organizations and learning institutions to develop and implement priority sustainability initiatives.
A major initiative is climate protection. The City aims to reduce its climate pollution through broad-ranging strategies including investing in transportation choices, encouraging compact communities, promoting clean energy and conservation, leading by example, and inspiring others to take action. In addition to reducing the City's contribution to global warming, the City will also prepare for climate change by ensuring that Seattle's infrastructure, facilities, and services are ready to adapt to the projected impacts of climate change. Examples of these goals include: 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012; 30 percent below 1990 levels by 2024; 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
Another main initiative is urban forest restoration and management. The Green Seattle Partnership was formed between the City of Seattle, the Cascade Land Conservancy and the residents of Seattle to restore 2500 acres of forested parkland by 2025. Efforts for urban forest restoration continue. In 2008, volunteers working in every neighborhood spent 78,000 hours removing invasives and planting native trees and understory plants. Their efforts helped the Partnership bring another 122 acres into the program.
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