The quality and character of Edmonds' environment define our everyday experience here. Global climate change already harms the Pacific Northwest and puts Edmonds' environment at risk. Climatologists expect conditions to worsen and become irreversible unless we eliminate human-generated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Sixth Assessment Report's headline statements summarize the realities of our changing climate and the necessary mitigation.
Edmonds first stood up for our climate in September 2006 by adopting the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (Resolution No. 1129) and joining the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) (Resolution No. 1130), formally supporting the Kyoto Protocol.