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Linda Lyshall, Ph.D. is a 2011 graduate of the PHD Program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University.

Dissertation Committee

  • Alan Guskin, Ph.D., Committee Chair
  • Philomena Essed, Ph.D., Committee Member
  • David Fluharty, Ph.D., Committee Member
  • Michele Betsill, Ph.D., External Reader

Keywords

Leadership, Participatory Action Research, Collaboration, Local Government, Mitigation, Abatement, Climate Change, Global Warming, Bottom-up, Policy, Multi-jurisdictional, Equity, Environment, Municipalities, City, County, Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2011

Abstract

This dissertation encompasses a case study and a Participatory Action Research project. The case study focuses on climate change mitigation activities within King County, Washington and its 39 cities and towns and discusses progress and challenges related to transportation issues, efficiency measures, and sustainability planning. The findings indicate there is a high level of activity in waste reduction, environmental outreach and education, bicycle and pedestrian promotion, tree canopy protection, sustainability policies, and green building. Other categories, such as energy efficiency, electric vehicle infrastructure, and greenhouse gas emission inventories and goal setting are on the rise. Twelve of the cities were found to be highly active with several more initiating new sustainability related policies and programs. The two overall biggest challenges to implementing climate change mitigation efforts in this area are the lack of financial and technical resources and the lower prioritization of these activities. The Participatory Action Research project was developed and conducted in collaboration with King County and nine of its cities in support of regional climate change and sustainability solutions, with the intent to increase climate change mitigation within King County. As a result of the project, the King County Cities Climate Collaboration was created to formalize a working partnership between the cities and the County, encourage and support region-wide emission reduction strategies, and increase efficiency and effectiveness of efforts through bottom-up collaboration and systemic operational integration. This dissertation includes attached video files. The electronic version of this dissertation is accessible at the OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu/

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