Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION

AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Item No.

11a

BRIEFING ITEM

Date of Meeting

June 11, 2024

DATE: May 24, 2024

TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director

FROM: Sandra Kilroy, Senior Director, Environment and Sustainability

Mallory Hauser, Sustainability Reporting and Communications Manager

SUBJECT: 2023 Environment and Sustainability Annual Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This year, the Port of Seattle achieved significant progress on our ambitious environmental and

sustainability goals. We're building a greener, more resilient port through a comprehensive

strategy focused on five key pillars:

(1) Leadership: Influencing environmental policy and actions locally, nationally, and

internationally.

(2) Partnerships: Collaborating with stakeholders to tackle complex challenges.

(3) Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing clear information to guide our actions.

(4) Investment: Directing resources toward sustainable practices.

(5) Community Engagement and Equity: Working closely with our neighbors to ensure a just

and sustainable future.

As an organization focused on opportunity, sustainability, and equity, we achieve this by working

collaboratively with others who share our vision.

Several factors influence how we approach sustainability. Environmental challenges are

becoming increasingly complex which demand innovative solutions. It is critical to engage our

communities and focus on environmental justice. Partnerships are crucial for tackling these

challenges. Climate change requires urgent action.

These drivers inform our overall strategy, which emphasizes leadership, partnerships, data-

driven decision making, investments, environmental justice, and community engagement. The

Port boasts a comprehensive set of environmental and sustainability initiatives across air, water,

land, and community. We work to influence change locally and globally, establishing ourselves as

a leader for the entire aviation and maritime sectors. We recognize our work contributes to

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global change and our strategies support progress toward achieving the United Nations

Sustainable Development Goals.

This annual report presentation serves a dual purpose:

(1) Celebrating Achievements: We'll showcase our comprehensive environmental and

sustainability programs, highlighting significant accomplishments made in 2023.

(2) Tracking Long-Term Goals: We've documented progress towards long-term goals

through a set of performance metrics (both qualitative and quantitative). These metrics,

tracked annually, demonstrate our commitment towards goals outlined in the Century

Agenda, regional agreements, and our own programmatic initiatives. Starting this year, a

formal annual report detailing our progress will be available on the Port's website.

This report highlights some of our accomplishments, but it's not exhaustive. Sustainability is a

collaborative effort, and we're grateful for the contributions of our Port leadership, teams,

tenants, and community partners. We remain committed to driving positive change throughout

the maritime and aviation sectors, ensuring a healthy environment for all.

BACKGROUND

The Port of Seattle's employees are a powerhouse of expertise. Teams work together to develop

and maintain programs tackling critical issues like decarbonization, habitat restoration,

remediation, water quality, waste reduction, noise reduction and sustainable infrastructure.

This commitment is reflected in the Port's ambitious goals outlined in the Century Agenda, a 25-

year strategic plan adopted in 2012. The Century Agenda serves as a compass, guiding decision-

making and setting a clear course for a greener future. Notably, Goal 4 focuses on environmental

leadership, with the Port aiming to become the greenest and most energy-efficient port in North

America.

Century Agenda Goal 4: Be the greenest and most energy-efficient port in North America

• Objective 9: Meet all increased energy needs through conservation and renewable

sources

• Objective 10: Meet or exceed agency requirements for stormwater leaving Port-owned

or operated facilities

• Objective 11: Reduce air pollutants and carbon emissions

• Objective 12: Restore, create, and enhance 40 additional acres of habitat in the

Green/Duwamish habitat

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Outlined in the 2023 annual environment and sustainability report are eleven key areas with

quantitative and qualitative data points demonstrating our progress toward environment and

sustainability goals.

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Category

Summary

2023 Highlights

Charting the

Course to Zero

(Climate)

The Port of Seattle takes a multi-

pronged approach to tackling

climate change and improving air

quality. Decarbonization is a core

focus, with initiatives like switching

to renewable natural gas for

buildings and partnering on clean

fuel research for maritime and

aviation industries. The Port actively

explores alternatives to traditional

fossil fuels, aiming to reduce

reliance on them across its

operations. Additionally,

electrification is a key strategy. The

Port is constantly seeking innovative

solutions to minimize air pollution

and contribute to a cleaner future.

We achieved a 50% reduction in

Port-wide Scope 1&2 GHG

emissions from the 2005 baseline --

- meeting our 2030 goal seven

years early thanks to the purchase

of renewable natural gas for both

our aviation and maritime facilities.

Signed Pacific Northwest to Alaska

Green Corridor project charter and

developed scope for green

methanol feasibility study.

Completed the MSW to SAF study

with King County.

Stewarding

Healthy Lands

and Habitat

The Port is voluntarily taking action

to restore critical habitat and

increase public access for our

communities. we are creating a

lasting legacy of stewardship that

fosters the health of our

communities and region for

generations to come. Our work

supports the survival and recovery

of critical species like salmon and

orcas, while also enhancing the

health of our communities through

improved environmental quality and

enriching recreational opportunities

like waterfront parks, inland creeks,

and marinas.

We formalized land management

practices through the adoption of

Land Stewardship Principles.

Over 2,500 chum and chinook

salmon returned to the Duwamish

River's Peoples Park, a testament

to our restoration efforts.

We've also restored kelp beds,

stabilized shoreline, and planted

over 13,000 trees and shrubs.

Cleaning Up

Contaminated

Lands

The Port of Seattle transforms

historically polluted areas into

healthy lands near our airport and

waterfront, fostering economic

growth and environmental

stewardship.

Significant progress was made with

investigations at seven terminals

and Port locations, including East

Waterway, Terminal 25, and

Terminal 91. SEA Airport’s former

United-Continental Fuel Farm Site

clean-up was completed.

Reducing Waste

Operating a major airport and

seaport means there can be a lot of

We are close to our 60% diversion

goal for SEA Airport terminals

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waste. The airport alone is a 24/7

operation that serves over 50

million passengers a year and has

20,000 employees who work there.

It is akin to managing a city,

including the need to manage all the

waste. The Port actively works to

embrace the call to “reduce, reuse

and recycle” in all our facilities.

(48%) and maritime facilities

(56.5%).

New SEA requirements mandate

reusable or compostable options at

all retail and dining locations,

taking effect in July 2024.

We've further bolstered our waste

reduction efforts by implementing

AI-powered waste sorting

machines.

Building

Resilient and

Sustainable

Infrastructure

Building infrastructure that is

sustainable and resilient in the long

term is important for financial

stewardship, community affects,

and environmental protection. We

need to stop the causes of climate

change while at the same time we

can control and prepare for the

possible impacts. The Port of Seattle

aims to build and maintain its

facilities in a smart, sustainable way

to ensure they function for our

community well into the future.

Efficiently handled environmental

reviews and permits, supporting

266 active maritime and aviation

projects in 2023.

Through the Sustainable Evaluation

Framework process, we reviewed

140 capital projects, resulting in

three completed sustainable design

strategies.

Protecting

Water Quality

Port of Seattle implements

programs and processes,

collaborates with our tenants, and

invests in innovative treatment

technologies to ensure we avoid or

minimize any effects on the health

of Puget Sound and foster a clean

and vibrant marine environment.

We protected water quality

through stormwater management

and met all permit requirements in

2023. SEA Airport retained its

Salmon-Safe certification, and we

made significant progress (33%)

toward our 75% target for

rehabilitating our maritime

stormwater system.

Lessening the

Impact of

Aircraft Noise

Seattle-Tacoma International

Airport (SEA) was one of the first

airports in the country to establish a

noise mitigation program. Since

1985 the Port has been delivering a

comprehensive Airport Noise

Program to minimize noise pollution

around the airport. The program has

three main components: residential

Completed or made progress in

insulating 8 single-family homes,

320 apartment units, 3 places of

worship, and the final 3 units in a

condominium complex.

Additionally, we partnered with the

FAA and a local school district to

upgrade schools for noise

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Template revised September 22, 2016.

sound insulation projects, airline

collaboration and recognition, and

community engagement.

reduction, with the 11th school

receiving voter approval in 2023.

Engaging Our

Community

Recognizing that a healthy

environment is vital for both the

port and surrounding communities,

the Port of Seattle prioritizes

collaborative environmental

stewardship. Through education

and outreach programs, the Port

empowers near-port residents and

regional communities to participate

in decision-making and advocate for

environmental well-being. This

commitment to community

engagement fosters trust,

empowers informed decision-

making, and harnesses the power of

collective action for a more

sustainable future.

We hosted or participated in over

60 community stewardship events

and learning opportunities,

including Duwamish Alive!, NWSA

Truck and Bike Safety Fair, and

StormFest.

Practicing

Equity,

Diversity, and

Inclusion

The Port actively advances Equity,

Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

through its environmental

programs. This includes prioritizing

business inclusion programs that

empower diverse-owned

businesses, fostering green job

creation, and providing a pathway

to economic opportunity for

residents, with a particular focus on

under-represented communities.

Additionally, the Port champions

environmental justice initiatives

that address historical disparities in

environmental burdens.

Supported strong WMBE

contracting goal. Created an

environmental justice manager.

Awarded $150,000 in

environmental grants. Utilized the

equity index in environmental

program planning.

Awards and

Recognition

Throughout the year, we've strived

to implement innovative solutions

and collaborate with stakeholders

to achieve our sustainability goals.

These awards and

acknowledgements represent the

dedication and hard work of our

team and partners, and further

We participate in Green Marine, a

program for continuous

improvement in environmental

performance within the maritime

industry, ranking 5 (the highest

score) in nearly all categories.

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motivate us to continue on the path

of environmental stewardship and

community engagement.

The Duwamish River People’s Park

and Habitat and Shoreline Habitat

was a finalist for the IAPH

Sustainability Award in the

environmental care category.

ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING

(1) Presentation slides

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