May 1 , 2007
Sims honored by EPA for climate change leadership
Executive keynote speaker at luncheon for national and international leaders in climate protection
King County Executive Ron Sims and actor/environmental leader Robert Redford are among six individuals honored today by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with its 2007 Climate Protection Award. Sims was the keynote speaker at the banquet that included awards to corporations, government agencies and other organizations from across the nation and around the world who have done outstanding work to reduce climate change.
In his keynote address, Sims told the audience his personal conviction is that global warming is both a problem and an opportunity. "We have an opportunity – today – to develop a clean energy economy that not only stops climate change, but also inspires economic rehabilitation of our urban centers, improves public health, and engages our communities in collective action," Sims said.
Before the speech Sims was one of five individual award winners to sign a joint statement that calls on the EPA to move quickly to issue California the waiver needed to implement new tailpipe standards that are more restrictive than federal standards. Washington state is one of ten other states that approved the California standard but can’t implement without EPA approval.
"This waiver is essential if we are going to meet our greenhouse gas reduction goals," says the statement submitted to the EPA as part of the public comment being taken on California's waiver request. It is signed by Sims; Redford; Robert Parkhurst of Campbell, CA; Auden Schendler of Aspen, CO; and the Reverend Sally Bingham of San Francisco.
"We also call upon EPA to comply with the Supreme Court's landmark global warming decision by promptly setting national standards for the heat-trapping emissions from vehicles and power plants, because they so clearly contribute to global warming," the joint statement reads.
The EPA cites Sims' leadership in pursuing aggressive strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in county operations, including one of the nation's greenest transit agencies, and land use policies to reduce sprawl and increase use of transit. Under Sims's leadership, King County became the first county in the nation to join the Chicago Carbon Exchange.
"As part of the Bush Administration's aggressive yet practical strategy, EPA is pleased to work with partners like these award winners to protect the Earth's atmosphere in cost-effective ways," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "Environmental protection is everyone's responsibility, and these leaders are making smart choices to hand down a cleaner, healthier future."
Corporate and other honorees include Mitsubishi Motors, Staples, Inc., HSBC Holdings, the World Customs Organization and the Natural Resources Council of Maine.
"Ron Sims is clearly deserving of this National honor for his inspiring leadership on Climate Change and a host of other innovative programs that benefit so many people and their environment," said Elin Miller, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 10. "We're fortunate to have Ron and other visionaries who are lending their talents and resources to work with us on energy and Climate Change initiatives here in the Pacific Northwest."
"Scientists tell us that in order to curb climate change we must dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions, as much as 80 percent by 2050," said Bill Wehrum, acting assistant EPS administrator for Air and Radiation. "Some say that the challenge is too great, but the Climate Award winners are showing that change is possible and that there are steps that can be taken now to substantially reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and be a model for others."
Sims thanked the EPA for numerous grants to King County to fund some of the county's innovations in reducing greenhouse gases, especially the nation's largest fuel cell operated by wastewater methane and a grant to buy hybrid heavy duty trucks and form the Northwest Hybrid Truck Consortium.
Joint Statement by 2007 EPA Climate Protection Award Recipients*
May 1, 2007
As recipients of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2007 Climate Protection Award, we acknowledge the agency's early history of leadership and action on crucial environmental issues of our time, starting with its effective enforcement of the Clean Air and Water Acts in the early 1970s. During many Administrations, EPA's actions very literally changed the landscape of America, clearing the air and purifying our lakes and streams, and promoting environmental protection globally. In particular, we'd like to recognize those many career agency employees who have shown enormous dedication to making our environment a better place for our children and grandchildren.
Today, climate change has emerged as the most pressing issue of our time, environmental or otherwise. As activists in the search for solutions, we all recognize the importance of bold leadership at this critical time. And it's for this reason that we call on the EPA to act without further delay, to implement climate solutions that will protect our economy, our coastlines, and our children. In particular, we respectfully ask that the EPA grant a waiver to California to allow it and other states to implement the California global warming pollution standards and substantially enlarge the market for low-emission vehicles in the U.S. This waiver is essential if we are going to meet our greenhouse gas reduction goals. We also call upon EPA to comply with the Supreme Court's landmark global warming decision by promptly setting national standards for the heat-trapping emissions from vehicles and power plants, because they so clearly contribute to global warming. We awardees promise to continue to work tirelessly to solve the climate problem; offer our support to this important agency as we move forward; and urge EPA to become a leader in battling global climate change.
- Reverend Sally Bingham, San Francisco, California
- Robert Parkhurst Campbell, California
- Robert Redford, Sundance, Utah
- Auden Schendler, Aspen, Colorado
- Ron Sims, King County, Washington
* Submitted as a public comment on California's waiver request pending with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Docket # EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0173, comment period ending June 15, 2007).