Q's SEATTLECITY COUNCIL May 6, 2019 Pete Holmes Seattle City Attorney RE: Filing Claims Against Fossil Fuel Corporations Dear City Attorney Holmes, The Seattle City Council is in support of your strategy to ?le claims against fossil fuel corporations on behalf of the City and its residents. We are aware that you are waiting for the outcome of the cases currently under review by the United States Circuit Court of Appeals before proceeding further. We support you in this strategy and applaud your strong stance to hold fossil fuel corporations responsible for their contributions to climate change. We thank you for retaining an outside law ?rm that would only be paid attorneys? fees if it successfully secures a settlement or victory in the courtroom, so as to ensure that public dollars are spent wisely. A number of other local jurisdictions, including New York City, Los Angeles, and King County, have ?led claims as well. Globally, climate change has the most devastating impact on the nations of the Global South; nations that have done the least to contribute to global warming and that have bene?ted the least from carbon- intensive development. Domestically, the impacts of climate change are falling most heavily on communities of color, low?income communities and Indigenous communities, which again have done the least to cause the problem and bene?ted the least from carbon-intensive development. For example, by 2100 Squaxin Island, home of the Squaxin Island Tribe, will be inundated by sea?level rise. These lands, disappearing under the ocean, are central to the Tribe?s natural resources-based economy and culture. Climate change also takes a huge economic toll and like the rest of the country and the planet, Seattle will be impacted by the economic costs of climate change. According to analysis by Zillow, drawing on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (N 0AA) data, 0.9% of Seattle?s current housing stock (1,663 homes), worth will be inundated by sea-level rise by 2100. The Of?ce of Sustainability and Environment has reported that the increased number of storm surges, occurrences of ?ooding, and decreased hydro-electric capacity?all impacts of global warming?will cost the city, ?nancially and materially. Fossil fuel companies have caused this problem. Just the ?ve fossil fuel companies targeted by New York City?s lawsuit are collectively responsible for approximately 11% of all human?caused greenhouse gas pollution. These are the same companies that knew for decades that their product was causing major climate destabilization, yet rather than inform the public, they spent tens of millions of dollars on efforts to cover the reality of climate science. This has been well-documented in investigative journalism carried out by InsideClimateNews, the Los Angeles Times and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, which found that ExxonMobil executives have known that burning fossil fuels would warm the climate since at least the 1970?s. An equal opportunity employer 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 2 PO Box 34025, Seattle Washington 98124?4025 Phone (206) 6848804 Fax (206) 684?8587 (206) 233?0025 Email Ils SEATTLECITY COUNCIL The oil and gas industry should be held accountable. As the chief legal representative of our City, we support your intent to ?le claims against the fossil fuel industry and do everything within your power to seek justice on behalf of our community. Sincerely, 11/ Council President Bruce Harrell Cduncilmember Mike O?Brien Jul/trawl QM Councilmember S?ly Bagshaw Councilmember Lisa Herbold Ql Councilmember AbelPacb?/ l: l/ ?/Jl/l/l QM Qth/L . Council?e? Kshama Sawant CounVcilmember Teres?a ?aMosqueda Councilmember DeboUrarez a An equal opportunity employer 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 2 I PO Box 34025, Seattle Washington 98124-4025 Phone (206) 684?8804 Fax (206) 684-8587 TTY (206) 233-0025 Email council@seattle.gov