Climate change could destroy Port Townsend’s downtown. But that’s just one issue in addressing environmental damage.

“In many ways, Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend have been ahead of the curve for a while,” said Laura Tucker, a Jefferson County Public Heath employee who is also a member of the local Climate Action Committee. “We have been proactive rather than reactive, and we were working hard at this before the panic set in.”

Tucker points to several small but significant steps. Plastic bags and plastic straws are prohibited in Port Townsend, which also instituted a car-idling ban. The local schools have shifted from disposable plates and silverware to reusable versions.

“Historically it has been a challenge to get agencies to work together,” said Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro. “But we enjoy robust, strong partnerships, where we are all pulling in the same direction.”

Mayor David Faber recently issued an updated call to action. His October 23 letter stresses the importance of planning, including a city parking strategy, refining city design standards, and adaptation for more frequent flooding.

Additionally, the City of Port Townsend and the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce are kicking off a ride-sharing initiative this month designed to drastically reduce carbon levels in the local atmosphere.

The Climate Action Committee, a 15-member group with representatives from seven local agencies augmented by local concerned citizens, is charged with managing and coordinating the disparate climate efforts.

The committee is responsible for developing strategies to implement the goals specified in the 2011 Climate Action Plan, which recommends how to achieve the goal of an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by the year 2050.

This points out how climate change is connected to many other local issues. The Olympic Peninsula is one of the most attractive areas of the country, which attracts new residents. This stresses an already acute housing shortage. And the efforts to cut greenhouse gases may be at cross purposes with the local dependence on tourism.

“I don’t see how we would ever discourage tourism,” said Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dana Petrick. “It is our greatest source of revenue. But we can attract people who respect the idea of minimizing the carbon footprint. And while some tourists venture off the trails and leave trash, a majority are respectful.”

“We can do better with tourism in general, to make it more sustainable,” Mauro said. “People will always want to come here because it’s a beautiful place, but we can make them aware of climate impact.”

This includes encouraging people to park their cars when they come to town and get around using ride-shares, bicycles, kayaking and walking.

The efforts to cut greenhouse gases may be at cross purposes with the local dependence on tourism, although the city would work toward putting sustainable options in place before discouraging any visitors.

The City of Port Townsend and the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce are kicking off a ride-sharing initiative this month designed to drastically reduce carbon levels in the local atmosphere. An orientation and ribbon cutting was to take place at 12:30 today the Chamber’s Office, 2409 Jefferson St.