Gary Haakenson - Mayor of City of Edmonds

Name: In Office: Address: Telephone: Website:

Gary Haakenson 2000 - Present 121 5th Ave. N. Edmonds, WA 98020 425-771-0247 www.ci.edmonds.wa.us/climate_prot.stm

Mayor Haakenson formed the Citizens Committee on Climate Protection in the summer of 2006 after signing onto Mayor Greg Nickels’ U.S. Climate Protection Agreement in April 2005. The committee’s mission is to:

1. Encourage citizens to be a part of the solution
2. Encourage City staff and citizens to conserve current resources
3. Work with the City Council to implement ideas
4. Effectively address the impacts of climate change

Steps have been taken toward energy savings in the areas of public works, land use, transportation, and public education activities, including: switching to B-20 biodiesel fuel in city vehicles, using energy-efficient LED lighting in traffic signals, retrofitting plumbing systems for water efficiency, supporting rapid transit, and offering public education on solid waste reduction and recycling. Staff is working to determine baseline and intermediate data to determine the City’s CO2 footprint in order to reduce that number by ten percent by 2019.

Snapshot of Cool Achievements

• 2007: The Mayor formed a staff task force to research all pertinent and available energy-usage data within the maintenance and operation of the City, including city-owned facilities and vehicles. The committee determined that 1999 will be the baseline year for data gathering and analysis, and 2019 as the target year for reducing the City’s CO2 footprint by ten percent. This staff task force will provide ICLEI’s data analysis to the Mayor and the citizens committee, who will in turn determine the best ways to address energy reduction and implement steps toward meeting our 2019 goal.
• 2007: The Mayor proclaimed April 14 – 22, 2007 as "Earth Week in Edmonds" in conjunction with Step it Up National Day of Climate Change and the 37th anniversary of Earth Day.
• 2006: The Mayor proclaimed October 4, 2006 as “Change a Light Day” in Edmonds to encourage citizens to switch to energy-efficient light bulbs in their homes.
• 2006: The City Council formally expressed support for the Kyoto Protocol by Resolution No. 1129 and joined ICLEI by Resolution No. 1130.
• 2006: Mayor Haakenson formed the Citizens Committee on U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.
• 2005: Mayor Haakenson signed onto Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels’ U.S. Climate Protection Agreement.

A Cool Quote

"Local leadership has the opportunity to bring citizens of like mind together for a single purpose, such as climate action. Working in unison, the group possesses the will and the energy to accomplish their goals. Then they are able to share their success with other local groups and eventually make a difference at the national level. We are lucky to have committed volunteers in Edmonds to take on the challenge of climate action."