Actions & Partnerships
SPU biologist Katherine Lynch (foreground) revived and restored Seattle’s Thornton Creek with an extensive team of partners. Floodplain restoration provides stormwater management, habitat, and additional ecosystem benefits today and into the future. Credit: Jelle Wagenaar
We are addressing climate change across the utility and with partners. We’re guided by our “Community Centered, One Water, Zero Waste” vision. All SPU employees contribute to this work, including hydrologists, planners, frontline crew members, foresters, engineers, biologists, customer service representatives, racial equity advisors, construction managers, and financial officers.
Climate Actions at SPU
Green House Gas Operational Inventory: SPU is conducting an annual greenhouse gas inventory in order to track and manage the emissions from our operations.
Ship Canal Water Quality Project: a climate-informed investment. The Ship Canal Water Quality Project, the largest drainage & wastewater project ever undertaken by SPU, includes a 2.7 mile-long underground tunnel to reduce polluted stormwater runoff and sewage into Salmon Bay, the Ship Canal and Lake Union. Based on an expectation of a 6-9% increase in total rainfall between 2015 and 2035, the Ship Canal Tunnel was enlarged from 14 feet in diameter to 18 feet 10 inches in diameter to increase tunnel storage volume from ~15 to 30 million gallons.
Food Rescue Innovation: Food waste is one of the largest contributors to climate change. SPU’s Food Rescue Innovation program aims to address this by diverting wholesome, edible food towards communities in need, via partnerships with food banks, meal programs, and food businesses.
Fleet and Facilities Electrification: SPU operates a fleet of 800+ leased and owned vehicles located at numerous facilities throughout the City of Seattle and the region. SPU has prioritized electrifying our fleet and reducing GHG emissions. SPU’s building electrification strategy phases out fossil fuels by 2035.
Learn more about climate action.
Partnerships
We work in partnership with climate scientists, peer utilities, and community-based organizations, and take a holistic and integrated approach to managing water and waste cycles to build community resilience and steward our environment.
Science, Climate, and Utility Networks
Learn more about the groups of utilities, scientists, and cities who serve as collaborators, resources, and guides for SPU’s climate action.
- Water Utility Climate Alliance
- US Water Alliance
- Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (Scripps Institution of Oceanography)
- University of Washington Climate Impacts Group
- Puget Sound Climate Preparedness Collaborative
- Climate Impacts Research Consortium
- Northwest Regional Modeling Consortium
- King County – Cities Climate Collaboration
- Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance
- Project Drawdown
- C40 Cities
Local Climate Change Action Resources
Discover local climate action efforts in Seattle and King County.
- City of Seattle Green New Deal
- Preparing for Climate Change (2017)
- Seattle’s Climate Action Strategy (2018)
- City of Seattle Greenhouse Gas Inventory
- King County Strategic Climate Action Plan (2020)