Multnomah County Office of Sustainability

05/27/2026

Read the latest about climate accountability lawsuits, including the Multnomah County lawsuit against big oil:

Cases in Hawaiʻi, Oregon, and Washington will continue moving forward as Big Oil prepares to plead its case before the Supreme Court this fall.

05/26/2026

We recently connected with the incredible Multnomah Youth Commission (MYC) Transit Equity & Environmental Advocacy committee to discuss how their advocacy is actively shaping our draft Climate Justice Plan.

From youth safety on transit and "Youth Pass for All" to environmental disparities in East County, these young leaders are driving real change. We know youth play a vital role in climate justice, so integrating their perspectives ensures our strategies are equitable and built for the long haul.

Thank you, MYC, for leading the way toward a more resilient future!

05/19/2026

Join us on May 29 for Postcards from Our Climate Resilient Future, an environmental storytelling project in partnership with CETI. Inspired by our Climate Justice Plan goals and strategies, this event includes presentations and a series of interactive augmented experiences depicting educational, imaginative, and hopeful visions in Multnomah County. We hope to see you there!

Learn more about the project: https://ceti.institute/event/postcards-datawalks/

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/postcards-from-our-climate-resilient-future-launch-2026-tickets-1986166696054

05/05/2026

Interested in how we've incorporated your feedback into our revised Climate Justice Plan? Join us for the Draft Climate Justice Plan Final Review!

This will be your last chance to provide feedback before the revised Climate Justice Plan is published. We will be hosting meetings on Tuesday, May 19 and Thursday, May 21 to outline how we've used community feedback in our revisions and listen to any last minute feedback on these revised strategies.

We hope to see you online or in person at one of these reviews!

Register to join at: https://rb.gy/tvjxz7

05/04/2026

Climate experts warn that we may have "hotter-than-normal" temperatures this summer across much of North America. While we don't know for certain how that will impact the PNW, it is more important than ever to make sure you are prepared for heat.

Learn more and start preparing:

This year’s gathering focused on awareness, resources and summer planning — addressing not only heat but also wildfires, smoke, floods, landslides and earthquakes, all of which increasingly affect our

04/28/2026

Earth Month has been great, but last week’s Earth Week was extra special!

We spent the week leaning into community stewardship and youth leadership. We joined Neighbors for Clean Air at the Native Gathering Garden in Cully Park for a morning of tending the land and celebrating our commitment to clean air, and we connected with the Grant High School Climate Action Team to dive into climate justice and hear directly from youth about their priorities for the future.

These moments of connection are what make our work possible. Let’s keep that momentum going all year long!

04/27/2026

Last week, Chair Vega Pederson sent a letter to the Portland City Council in support of the "Eastside Area Planning Project" resolution that would promote more housing construction and healthier neighborhoods. In exciting news, the City Council unanimously approved the resolution!

Learn more about the resolution here: https://www.portland.gov/council/districts/4/mitch-green/news/2026/4/16/portland-city-council-commits-housing-expansion?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Read the chair's letter here: https://multco.us/news/chair-vega-pederson-voices-support-city-portland-eastside-area-planning-project-resolution

The resolution supports expedited planning and policy work across City bureaus to enable housing development in Portland's Inner Eastside for people in all ages, wages, and stages of life.

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! 🌎

Help make a difference this Earth Month by committing to a few easy but impactful actions or strategies, such as:
- Save money and support clean energy by signing up for community solar.
- Make a goal of biking, walking, or taking public transit instead of driving for at least one of your commutes or errands this month.
- Switch to reusable bags – keep one with you (e.g. in your car) and avoid paying the fee per bag at the grocery store.
- Get involved in local environmental groups or projects, like our Climate Justice Plan.

04/07/2026

Office of Sustainability director, John Wasiutynski, and the Office of Emergency Management teamed up to answer questions from visiting scholars from the London School of Economics. Their sharp insightful questions show that the next generation of leaders takes sustainability and community resilience seriously. 🌎

03/31/2026

Thank you to our partners at the City of Gresham for giving us a tour of the city's new stormwater tree wells!

The 32 new tree wells along Stark and Burnside were funded by the first post-disaster FEMA grant to address heat-islands, issued in the wake of the 2021 heatdome.

These stormwater tree wells will help clean street water by letting it soak into the soil, where the tree and soil filter out pollution. Structural soil is used in the wells and under the adjacent sidewalk to give the tree roots room to grow without lifting the concrete.

We love seeing sustainable additions to our cities and are so excited for these new trees, which will reduce pollution along these busy streets and help cool the community!