This page provides an overview of climate change in Washington State, with an emphasis on local and state governmental responses.

Overview

The concern about climate change has been widely recognized on a global, national, and regional level. "Global warming" refers to increases in global temperatures resulting from an accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, and chlorofluorocarbons. These gases trap the sun's heat as it is radiated from the earth, and prevent it from escaping back into space. State and local governments are addressing climate change in their plans and policies and starting to take actions to reduce greenhouse gases.

General Climate Change Resources

The following are some key resources that may be useful to local governments regarding slowing the process of climate change, adapting to it, and addressing its impacts.

• ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability —  ICLEI is an international membership association of local governments committed to advancing climate protection and sustainable development.
• Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) —  Comprehensive site of independent nonprofit organization dedicated to providing credible information and innovative solutions in the effort to address energy issues and global climate change. Offers a comprehensive collection of scientific and public policy information regarding climate change  
• Climate Solutions - Practical Solutions to Global Warming —  Northwest nonprofit organization spearheading a regional approach to global warming solutions
• The Climate Registry —  Nonprofit collaboration that sets consistent, transparent standards throughout North America for businesses and governments to calculate, verify and publicly report their greenhouse gas emissions in a single registry
• The Climate Trust — Nonprofit organization that specializes in climate solutions for governments, utilities, and large businesses; involved in carbon trading and purchase of carbon offsets

Scientific and Public Policy Information Related to Climate Change

From the international level, including the United Nations, to Washington State and local governments, global warming and climate impacts have been the focus of considerable attention in recent years. The Northwest has been on the leading edge of climate issues, from both scientific and public policy perspectives. This information can help local governments preparing climate action plans and policies dealing with climate change in comprehensive plans.

International

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - An international body established by the World Meteorological Organization and United Nations Environment Programme to assess scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of climate change, its potential impacts, and options for adaptation and mitigation. The IPCC is the definitive source of mainstream scientific consensus on climate science and projections of climate changes and impacts. Issues regular assessment reports on the state of knowledge on climate change
• United Nations - Gateway to the UN Systems Work on Climate Change - UN climate change portal 

National

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
  • Energy Resources for State, Local, and Tribal Governments — Provides technical assistance, analytical tools, and outreach support to state, local, and tribal governments
  • Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series — Offer a comprehensive overview of local government greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction strategies that local governments can employ
  • Clean Air Act Permitting for Greenhouse Gases — Permits required for greenhouse gas emissions from the largest stationary sources since January 2011
• U.S. Global Change Research Program — Interagency group including government agencies and foundations. Integrates federal research and solutions for climate and global change. See National Climate Assessment, 2014 — Report on climate change impacts on the U.S., including the Northwest region 
• U.S. Department of Transportation: Transportation and Climate Change Clearinghouse,—One-stop source of information on climate change impacts on transportation systems and infrastructure. Includes section on State/Local Actions and Policies
• ICLEI USA — Membership organization of U.S.-based local governments committed to climate protection and sustainability; helps cities to adopt policies and implement quantifiable measures to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and enhance urban livability and sustainability.

General Information on Local Governments and Climate Change

• American Planning Association: Policy Guide on Planning and Climate Change (2011) — Addresses federal, state, and local roles related to land use, transportation, energy, and other topics
• Alliance for Innovation: Local Sustainability and Climate Policy: More Talk than Action? (2012) — Examines how local governments see their role in promoting energy conservation and sustainability based on a 2010 national survey of local government managers in U.S. cities conducted by Florida State University
• Center for Clean Air Policy: Growing Wealthier: Smart Growth, Climate Change and Prosperity  (2011) — Discusses effects on vehicle miles traveled, gross domestic product (GDP), and other measures of prosperity
• Oregon Transportation and Growth Management Program: Cool Planning: A Handbook on Local Strategies to Slow Climate Change (2010) — Looks at how land-use policies, development decisions, street design, road networks, transportation plans and other community-shaping factors influence the frequency and distance of travel and mode of transportation chosen.
• Washington State Environmental Justice Task Force Final Report (2020) — Provides context for what environmental justice (EJ) is, how to build on existing EJ work in Washington, and why state government must prioritize addressing EJ issues and environmental health disparities
• University of Washington (UW) Climate Impacts Group —  In Washington State, the UW has conducted valuable research on regional climate change and provided scientific data and policy analysis on global warming and climate issues. Below are some reports that may be useful for local governments
  • Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation in Washington State: Technical Summaries for Decision Makers (2013) — Summarizes existing knowledge about the likely effects of climate change on Washington State, with an emphasis on research since 2007
  • Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State Governments (2007) — Intended to help local, regional, and state government decision-makers prepare for climate change by recommending a detailed, easy-to-understand process for climate change preparedness

Washington State and Local Government Response to Climate Change

Washington State has played a leadership role in addressing climate change. ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability, assists cities and counties in the U.S. and other countries in addressing climate change. Many Washington jurisdictions have signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Several Washington jurisdictions have taken a leadership role in addressing climate change.

State-Level Resources

In Washington State, the DOE is the primary agency that is working on climate issues. However, there are additional resources.

• Washington State Department of Ecology: Climate Change — The place to start for information on Washington State policy on climate change; also see Climate Change Publications
• Washington Department of Commerce: Climate Change and Energy Aware Communities — Information on climate change mitigation and adaptation as part of Growth Management Services
• Washington Chapter, American Planning Association: Sustainable Washington 2009: Planning for Climate Change — Emphasizes actions that planners can take to mitigate the effects of climate change and to adapt strategies
• Transportation Efficient Communities — Partnership between multiple Washington State departments to help local planners and officials make their communities more transportation-efficient; includes information on planning for climate resiliency.

Local Government Resources

This section includes ordinances and resolutions related to climate change, green task forces, and climate action plans. Also see the sections below on Legal Issues and Environmental Review of Climate Impacts and Comprehensive Plans Addressing Climate Issues.

Washington Cities

• Bainbridge Island Ordinance No. 2017-13 (2017) — Establishing climate change advisory committee comprised of "qualified scientific experts" to advise city council and staff members on climate change and greenhouse gas reduction
• Bellingham Climate Protection & Energy — Includes links to Climate Action Plan (updated 2018); national leader in climate protection by reducing environmental impact of municipal operations
• Edmonds Climate Action Plan (2010) —
• Olympia Sea Level Rise — This webpage includes links to the 2019 Sea Level Rise Response Plan and information about the plan's advisory committee
• Port Townsend and Jefferson County Climate Action Plan (2011) — An effort to achieve an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by the year 2050.
• Redmond Climate Action Implementation Plan (2014) — Details strategies to minimize household, business, and government emissions a
• Seattle Climate Planning — Includes 2013 climate action plan and 2018 update, adaptation strategies, and greenhouse gas emission monitoring
• Shoreline 
  • Climate Action Plan (2013) — Identifies 13 categories of performance measures and 43 indicators that will be tracked over time to quantify the progress of the initiative
  • Resolution No. 418 (2017) — Pledging to join the Puget Sound Regional Climate Preparedness Collaborative
• Tacoma 
  • Environmental Action Plan — This webpage includes links to the 2016 plan and annual progress reports
  • Resolution 39427 — Provides guidance and investments to meet the target goals for the Plan.

Washington Counties

• King County
  • King County-Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C) — Collaborative effort between King County, nearby cities, and county-based special purpose districts to coordinate and enhance the effectiveness of local government climate and sustainability action
  • Climate Change — Portal to extensive information about King County's activities in response to climate change, including the most recent Climate Action Plan (2020) and annual reports
• Skagit County
  • Climate Change and Sustainability Initiative — Program updates and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and plan for climate change
  • Climate Action Plan (2010)
• Snohomish County/Stillaguamish Tribe Climate Change Curriculum Contract (2016) — Intergovernmental contract for county to develop and pilot a standards-based climate change curriculum for middle school and high school students
• Thurston County Sustainability Program — Includes links to the county’s green building webpage and annual sustainability reports

Washington Special Purpose Districts

• Port of Olympia Climate Change — Includes 2017 greenhouse gas emissions inventory

Legal Issues and Environmental Review of Climate Impacts

The Washington State DOE provides information on the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) as well as the SEPA review process. This section also addresses SEPA review of climate impacts and other legal issues related to climate change.

• King County
  • Executive Order on the Evaluation of Climate Change Impacts (2007) — Requires departments to consider climate change impacts as part of their SEPA project review
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions in King County — Tracks and reports on emissions regularly
• Seattle
  • Ordinance No. 122574 (2007) — Requires city departments to evaluate climate impacts when performing environmental review of actions pursuant to SEPA
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions Worksheet , Department of Planning and Development
  • Review of Greenhouse Gas Emissions TIP No. 207 (2019) — Explains the applicable regulations/process for disclosing potential emissions done pursuant to SEPA review

Comprehensive Plans Addressing Climate Issues

This includes climate elements of comprehensive plans and guidance for policies addressing climate impacts.

• Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (now Department of Commerce): Planning for Climate Change: Addressing Climate Change through Comprehensive Planning under the Growth Management Act (2008) — Includes policy recommendations (including possible changes to state statutes) and funding options for strategies to address climate change 
• California Air Pollution Control Officers Association: Model Policies for Greenhouse Gases in General Plans (2009) — Model policies developed for California communities
• Edmonds Comprehensive Plan, Community Sustainability Element
• Seattle Comprehensive Plan, Environmental Element  - See section E - Climate Change 

Sea Level Rise

Coastal communities in Washington State face considerable challenges with rising sea levels. Only a few inches of sea level rise can make a difference in flooding associated with increased rainfall and more intense wind, storm surge, and tides. In Washington State, the Department of Ecology (DOE) is the primary agency that is working on climate issues. The following are selected resources for local governments to use in addressing sea level rise associated with climate change: 

• Columbia Law School Center for Climate Change Law: Managed Coastal Retreat, A Legal Handbook on Shifting Development Away from Vulnerable Areas (2013) — Offers tools, case studies, and lessons learned  to assist federal, state, and local governments in conducting managed retreat away from vulnerable coasts.
• Georgetown Climate Center: Adaptation Tool Kit: Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Land Use – How Governments Can Use Land-Use Practices to Adapt to Sea-Level Rise (2011) — This helpful toolkit is a great resource for planners. Explores 18 land-use tools that can be used to preemptively respond to the threat posed by sea level rise.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Adapting to Climate Change: A Planning Guide for State Coastal Managers (2010) — Helps coastal managers develop and implement adaptation plans to reduce the risk associated with climate change impacts affecting their coasts
  • Digital Coast — multi-agency partnership to provide a variety of tools (Sea Level Rise Viewer) and data to support the management of and long-term planning for coastal communities
• Washington State DOE: Sea Level Rise — Brings together many useful reports, resources, and mapping and visualization tools. Links to the Coastal Hazard Resilience Network, a collaboration effort between the DOE and Washington SeaGrant to provide better guidance for land use planners and strengthen capital investment programs for coastal restoration and infrastructure.
• Washington Sea Grant: Hazards, Resilience and Climate Change — Based out of the University of Washington; offfers a variety of resources to local governments, including hazard and risk assessments, research, and community outreach and education.