San Juan County Climate and Sustainability Advisory Committee launched; tips for Earth Day

While San Juan County has invested in the environment for more than a decade, last year County Council elevated the environmental resources team to the Department of Environmental Stewardship and added the Climate and Sustainability program to acknowledge the importance of this work. The Climate and Sustainability Advisory Committee will advise on policy, help set priorities, and harness the momentum of existing work to help steer the County’s climate action plan.  

Climate and Sustainability Advisory Committee Structure

We are pleased to introduce the new committee members, appointed by the County Council on April 5, who will bring their expertise and experience to help launch this work.

District 1 - San Juan
Vincent Dauciunas, retired electrical engineer, currently on Opalco Board of Directors
Adrian Kilpatrick, design/build business owner, farming/permaculture design specialist 
Barbara Marrett, Friday Harbor Port Commissioner, stewardship and conservation background 

District 2 - Orcas
Janet Alderton, retired research biologist, active in conservation and planning
Jay Kimball, climate change consultant, focus on mitigation, planning, and communication 
Michael Shanks, OIHS Spanish teacher, climate change educator

District  3 - Lopez/Shaw
Chris Greacen, renewable energy and rural development consultant, active in school initiatives 
Renee Koplan, Lopez Hospital District Interim Superintendent, biology/zoology background  
Oliver Whitfield, retired aerospace engineer and inventor, currently on Opalco Board of Directors

Youth Representative
Luke Fincher, current senior at FHHS, active community/conservation volunteer, pursuing dual major in Environmental Science & Psychology 

County Staff Representative
Kendra Smith, Department of Environmental Stewardship Director 

Our community has responded with a groundswell of support for the formation of the County’s new Climate and Sustainability program. It is very apparent that county residents care deeply for the islands and are ready to take action to protect and preserve our home. The community is invited to take part in our committee meetings; please watch this page for meeting details. But outside the meeting room, citizens play a critical role in creating a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.  

Here are 3 ways you can take action this Earth Day, and every day: 

1. Cut your lawn in half and rewild 
Consider removing half your lawn (or more) and returning it to a natural state. Here in the San Juans, our land naturally supports a host of native flowers, grasses and trees. Not only will this help reduce significant emissions from lawn mowers and leaf blowers, it helps build critical biodiversity and conserves precious water resources. 

2. Eat less beef, more plants
Beef production has a considerable environmental impact due to greenhouse gas emissions and land and water degradation. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) describes plant-based diets as a major opportunity for mitigating and adapting to climate change and recommends reduced meat consumption.

3. Drive less
The math is simple: burn less fuel, generate fewer emissions, slow the pace of global warming. As we step into springtime, look for opportunities to leave the car parked and choose to walk, bike, or rideshare instead.  

Thank you for joining us in this partnership for the islands, and for the planet.