• Great Opportunity to be a Climate Change Leader!
• Need a visit from a Carbon Coach?
• Green Seattle Day Nov. 7th, coming to a park near you!
• Join us for an International Day of Climate Action!
• Electric Vehicles: Getting Seattle Plug-In Ready
• Light Rail Opening July 18th!
• Mayor Nickels rallies Seattleites to Take Climate Action Now
• Mayor Nickels launches a green building initiative
• Volunteer at the Green Apple Festival
• Kids Climate Day
• Bikes to Ghana!
• What's Black, White and Cool all over? Woodland Park Zoo's New Penguins!
• Volunteer and Help Keep Our City Green and Healthy
• Shrinking Bigfoot's BIG Carbon Footprint (and Yours Too!)

Great Opportunity to be a Climate Change Leader!

Are you passionate about environmental issues? Are you interested in “doing more” to help your community address climate change? If so, we are looking for you!

We are currently recruiting for our next class of Carbon Coaches. This is an opportunity for a FREE training where you will learn about reducing carbon emissions and how to teach others to do so. The six-week long course consists of three hour training sessions once a week and one Saturday field trip. Applicants are asked to commit to attending every training session and to be willing to engage in future volunteer and outreach/education activities around climate change. Training starts on Wednesday March 24 and ends on Wednesday April 28. Download an application here. For more information, contact seattlecan@seattle.gov.

Need a visit from a Carbon Coach?

Seattle Climate Action Now has just graduated our first class of Carbon Coaches, and they’re ready to help you!  Carbon Coaches are community members who have been trained to help you reduce your carbon footprint at home, at work, and on the road.  They can help you calculate your personal carbon emissions and help you put together a carbon reduction action plan tailored just for you and your lifestyle.  To meet with a Carbon Coach, email SeattleCAN@seattle.gov today.

Green Seattle Day Nov. 7th, coming to a park near you!

Have fun, bring the kids, help protect our water, wildlife, and climate!  Join your neighbors planting trees and shrubs during our biggest volunteer event of the year- Green Seattle Day November 7th, at a park near you. 

The Green Seattle Partnership is a collaboration between the City of Seattle, Cascade Land Conservancy and Seattle’s residents to restore 2,500 acres of forested parkland by 2025.  These precious areas are failing as existing trees reach the end of their natural life and invasive plants have choked out the next generation of trees.  While volunteer events happen all year round, our biggest event of the year is Green Seattle Day.   There are 16 event sites around the city including this year’s hub site, Cheasty Greenspace.  Check out the event map to find a site near you and then sign up and join your neighbors for the fun.

Our grand deciduous trees and forested parklands have quietly helped Seattle grow into one of America’s most livable cities.  Now, Seattle trees and parks need help.  Of the 3,200 acres of forested parkland, 2,500 acres are heavily infested with English ivy, Himalayan blackberry and other invasive plants.  Seattle’s deciduous trees – big leaf maple and red alder – are dying of old age, while native evergreens cannot reseed or compete with the invasive plants.  The uniqueness and functionality of Seattle’s forested parklands is being lost to a blanket of strangling weeds.  Without a massive, coordinated community effort, 7 out of 10 trees in these natural areas will be dead within twenty years. 

In response to this community need and building on the existing and ongoing work of committed volunteers, the City of Seattle and the Cascade Land Conservancy launched The Green Seattle Partnership in 2004.  The Partnership is a 20-year effort to restore 2,500 acres of Seattle’s forested parks, build community support for long-term park stewardship and pass on a legacy of community service to future generations.  By mobilizing Seattle residents to donate 2 million volunteer hours and plant 200,000 trees by 2025, the Green Seattle Partnership will create healthier and more livable communities and pass on a legacy of community service to future generations.  Since the program’s inception, over 385 acres have entered restoration with the support of over 242,000 hours of community volunteer support.  

Join us for an International Day of Climate Action!

On October 24, thousands of events will be carried out around the world to raise awareness that if carbon in the atmosphere tops 350 parts per million (ppm), we threaten our life on planet earth. The bad news is we’re already past that number – we’re at 385 ppm, but the good news is that we the people can make a difference by changing what we do in our daily lives and dial that number back!  350.org has news, details, and information about 350 events that are happening across the globe. 

Here in Seattle, please join us at the Seattle Center International Fountain on Saturday October 24 to take action!

To RSVP, email SeattleCAN@seattle.gov with “350” in the subject line.

2:00pm-3:00pm: Exhibitors and live feed of residents taking climate action across Seattle.
3:00pm-4:00pm: Photo Op – Everyone will form a “3”, “5”, and “0” on the Fountain Lawn for an exciting photo letting the world know Seattle is serious about climate change. Take the pledge and enjoy entertainment and speakers while the formation unfolds.
4:00pm-5:00pm: Exhibitors, live feed continues, speakers and entertainment.

To RSVP, email SeattleCAN@seattle.gov with “350” in the subject line.

Participating groups in this event include CoolMom, SCALLOPS, Climate Solutions, Seattle Parks, CoolSchool Challenge, Seattle Green Schools, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Center, ITSCool, Seattle Climate Action Now, WSU Carbon Masters and many, many others promoting great ways for YOU to take climate action!

Electric Vehicles:
Getting Seattle Plug-In Ready

On August 5, Mayor Greg Nickels announced that the Dept. of Energy will be funding the largest electric transportation project ever. As part of this grant, the Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (eTec) will establish up to 2,550 charging systems for electric vehicles in the Seattle-area. Setting the stage for today’s announcement, Nickels and Nissan North America signed an agreement last April to make Seattle one of the first markets to introduce Nissan’s LEAF - a zero-emission, all-electric car. In return, Seattle pledged to take regulatory and other steps to get ready for the arrival of Nissan’s electric car in October 2010. The grant announced today will enable purchasers of the Nissan vehicle who participate in the program a 220-volt charging station in their home at no cost. In addition, eTec will facilitate the deployment of a charging network throughout the Seattle-area that can be used by any electric vehicle equipped with industry standard connectors.

• Read Mayor Nickels' Press Statement on Going Electric - Acrobat PDF
  
• Learn More about Seattle Getting Plug-In Ready - Acrobat PDF
  
• Check out the Timeline for Electric Transportation in Seattle - Acrobat PDF
  
• Read Questions and Answers about Your New Plug-In in Seattle - Acrobat PDF
  
• Check out Nissan’s New Fully Electric Vehicle, LEAF
  
• Read President Obama's Statement
  
• Read eTec's Press Release - Acrobat PDF
  
• Read eTec's Questions and Answers - Acrobat PDF
  

Light Rail Opening July 18!

Sound Transit Board Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels will kick off Link Light Rail service on Saturday, July 18! Trains will begin carrying passengers from Tukwila to downtown Seattle, with stops along the way in Rainier Valley, Beacon Hill, SODO and downtown. Taking the train is a great climate solution. All train rides are free during the opening weekend and there will be fun activities at all stations. Regular service will begin on Monday, July 20 with trains coming every seven and a half minutes during rush hour.
Read more.

Mayor Nickels rallies Seattleites to Take Climate Action Now

On May 21, Mayor Greg Nickels gave testimony to the EPA at a hearing on the dangers of climate pollution, then rallied thousands of Seattleites outside of the hearing.
Read more.

Mayor Nickels launches a green building initiative

On Earth Day, the mayor announced a strategy to save energy and shrink the climate pollution from Seattle's buildings and homes.
Read more.

Volunteer at the Green Apple Festival!

Take part in Seattle's Green Apple Festival April 17-19. Volunteer opportunities include planting trees, energy efficiency retrofitting, water protection, and urban garden and forest restoration. Learn more at the Green Apple Festival website.

Kids Climate Day

Join the Seattle Art Museum and Climate Action Now for an Earth Day celebration at the Olympic Sculpture Park! Learn about climate change and what actions your family can take to reduce your carbon footprint-including car-free transportation, green energy choices, and sustainable food. The event is April 18th, noon - 3:00pm at the PACCAR pavilion. Don't miss our performance of "Shrinking Bigfoot" at 12:30pm. Learn more.

Bikes to Ghana!

Come join Bike Works and the Village Bicycle Project send bicycles to Ghana. People are needed to help with all parts involved in loading hundreds of bikes into a shipping container bound for Ghana. This is a fun experience, a great way to spend the day and an amazing sight to behold once finished. The event will take place April 25 and May 16 near Georgetown at 1915 S. Corgiat Drive.

The bicycles will help people in Ghana who face scarce public transit and rising costs to meet their basic transportation needs. The project is part of an on-going partnership between Bike Works and Village Bicycle Project a nonprofit organization based in Moscow, Idaho. Click here for more information!

Stop by for part of the day or all of the day. Please email or call 206.725.9408 ext. 1 to RSVP.

What's Black, White and Cool all over? Woodland Park Zoo's New Penguins!

Visit Woodland Park Zoo's new penguin exhibit opening May 2 and learn how the Zoo is saving millions of gallons of water and nearly 23,000 kWh of energy annually. Energy and water conservation innovations in the new penguin exhibit are made possible in part by Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities.

Click here to download a $2 off admission coupon!

Green Festival Returns to Seattle March 28-29

Seattle is delighted to host its second annual Green Festival March 28-29 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. This year's festival will present limitless tips on sustainable living, expert presentations on the new green economy, live music and a short film festival.

Complete this form and print out a coupon to get into Green Fest for free. And be sure to visit the City of Seattle's Climate Action Now pavilion on the Skybridge. We have a full line-up of green workshops and great prizes!

Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets!

From April to September, streets around the city are being opened for residents to get out and have fun, celebrate the spirit of the community and explore local businesses. This year's celebrations will be in Alki, Ballard, Greenwood, Pike Place Market, Rainier Valley, the U-District and our neighborhood parks. Every member of the community is welcome to organize Summer Streets, so bring your interests outdoors-play kickball, skateboard or host a hula hoop competition-and enjoy your local community. Read more and begin reimagining Seattle's communities.

Volunteer and Help Keep Our City Green and Healthy

From President Obama to Mayor Greg Nickels, the call to give back to our communities is now. Spend some free time nurturing your favorite public spaces. You can help to restore our beloved parks or garden organic produce for those in need-volunteer opportunities are endless. Visit Seattle Works, EarthCorps and Seattle Department of Parks and get your helping hands dirty today. Large or small, your volunteer efforts help our communities thrive.

Turn Off the Lights for Earth Hour

Get ready to join the world and celebrate Earth Hour, Saturday, March 28 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. This year, Earth Hour aims to have 1 billion people switch off their lights, as a global call to action and a darkening stance against global warming. Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007 when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. Last year, more joined in, with 50 million people flicking the switch. Like last year, the City of Seattle will be turning off the lights in our facilities and will proclaim the day "Earth Hour Day." Join in, turn the light's off and recognize Earth Hour with, hopefully, billions of people across the globe. Learn more about Earth Hour.

Shrinking Bigfoot’s BIG Carbon Footprint (and Yours Too!)

Seattle Climate Action Now is announcing a great new way to engage kids in fighting global warming. "Shrinking Bigfoot" encourages students to play an active role in protecting our planet by shrinking their own carbon footprints with easy, everyday choices. Find out more and sign up for free, fun, live-theater assembly performances, classroom presentations and teacher trainings throughout Seattle City Light's service territory at: http://www2.seattle.gov/exploreenergy/

Green Up! Special Limited Time Offer!

Sign on with Green Up Seattle for one year and receive a discount up to $25 when you purchase from Spud!, a home-delivery company specializing in organic groceries and locally made products. Customers joining Green Up by December 31, 2008 will enjoy a $5 discount off the price of the first three orders and a $10 discount off the fourth order placed with www.Spud.com.

If you're already contributing to Green Up, you can also receive the Spud! discount by increasing your monthly contributions for a year.

Green Up Seattle is Green-e certified, which guarantees your Green Up dollars help expand the production of renewable energy, such as wind and biomass, in the Northwest.

To enroll online see www.greenupseattle.org. For more information call (206) 684-8822.

What's Your Climate Solution?

When Mayor Nickels first launched Seattle Climate Action Now last September, one of our first activities was to host an art contest with Seattle Public Schools. Students were asked use art to answer the question: "What's Your Climate Solution?" We got a lot of great work depicting everything from bike riding to unplugging appliances when not in use. Ultimately, our panel of esteemed judges chose a drawing by recent Ballard High School graduate Charity Gage in a reception held in the Olympic Sculpture Park Pavilion.

The most exciting part of this project? Charity's drawing will appear on a t-shirt now available for purchase at the Seattle Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park's SAM SHOP! So stop by and pick up one of these inspiring, creative t-shirts!