Title
Comprehensive Plan: Climate Element Briefing
Recommended Action
No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Briefing on the draft climate element.
Staff Contact:
Natalie Weiss, Climate Resilience Coordinator, City Manager’s Office, Climate Program, 360.570.5828
Presenter:
Natalie Weiss, Climate Resilience Coordinator
Background and Analysis:
Climate Element: Description and State Requirements
The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) (RCW 36.70A) guides and directs local government planning in WA. It requires cities and counties to adopt and update a comprehensive plan to accommodate 20 years of growth. The Comprehensive Plan also establishes the primary goals and policies that guide all City actions.
Planning for climate change and resiliency was added as the 14th goal to the GMA in 2023, by adoption of House Bill 1181 (Chapter 228, Laws of 2023). The GMA requires local comprehensive plans to include goals and policies for greenhouse gas emissions reduction and climate resilience.
The new Climate Action & Resilience chapter will address both climate mitigation (the reduction of greenhouse gases) and resiliency (the ability to adapt to our changing climate). The overarching goals of this chapter are to:
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Reduce vehicle miles traveled.
• Improve climate preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.
• Maximize co-benefits and prioritize environmental justice in the development of policies/programs to achieve these goals.
To capture the collaborative approach that is needed to address climate action in the City of Olympia, the Climate Element will be integrated throughout each chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. This effort is supported by a cross-departmental staff team (Climate Policy Advisory Team), made up of staff from the City of Olympia and the Squaxin Island Tribe.
Resilience Sub-Element
The Resilience Sub-Element of the Climate Chapter strengthens Olympia’s capacity to prepare for, adapt to, and respond to climate-related events. From the Climate Conditions Report (ICLEI, 2023), we determined that the Sub-Element will address the following hazards: extreme precipitation, sea level rise, ocean acidification, drought, extreme heat, rising temperatures, and wildfire and smoke.
At the beginning of the process, we conducted a Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment. The assessment determined which community assets are at risk from climate-exacerbated hazards. The results indicated that Olympia’s high risks are impacts to public health from extreme heat and smoke. We will also expect negative impacts to the environment, including forests, marine, and freshwater ecosystems, from extreme heat, drought, and heavy rainfall. Sea level rise also poses a significant challenge for Olympia’s downtown, including critical infrastructure, buildings, and emergency response. These results drive the goals and policies included within the Comprehensive Plan. Through the goals and policies, we will mitigate the risks and vulnerabilities outlined in the Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment.
Mitigation Sub-Element
Through the Mitigation Sub-Element, we aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across sectors. The Sub-Element focuses on Olympia’s largest emitting sectors -- transportation, buildings and energy, and waste. The City of Olympia has committed to net-zero emissions by 2040, and the Mitigation Sub-Element lays out the goals and policies needed to meet this target. The City is already doing work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, these goals and policies outline strategies to further reduce emissions in each sector. The goals and policies are informed by the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan, 2021 Greenhouse Gas Inventory and 2021 Carbon Wedge Analysis.
Climate Element Next Steps
The Climate Policy Advisory Team released draft goals and policies for the Climate Element for public comment on Engage Olympia between February and March 2025. We are in the process of reviewing and responding to public comment and will publish the updated draft Element for a second round of public comment in early June. The entire Comprehensive Plan will be adopted by end of December 2025.
This meeting’s discussion is an opportunity to share your feedback on proposed goals and policies for the Climate Element, with an emphasis on the climate goals and policies proposed for the Utilities chapter.
Climate Analysis:
Development of the Comprehensive Plan Climate Element will support long-term planning for climate mitigation (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions reduction) and resilience.
Equity Analysis:
Climate change affects everyone. However, some people and communities in Olympia (sometimes referred to as frontline communities) will experience greater impacts due to their age, race, gender, health, where they live, or what they do for work. Prioritizing environmental justice and maximizing co-benefits for frontline communities is a key goal of the Climate Element.
Equity will be incorporated throughout the Climate Element goals and policies, and staff are prioritizing outreach to frontline communities to the greatest extent feasible.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There is considerable community interest in climate action (including greenhouse gas reduction and resilience). Multiple opportunities and forums for community engagement have been undertaken already including in person open houses and individual community group meetings as well as online engagement on the Engage Olympia platform.
We have heard from social service providers, economic development organizations, and housing affordability advocates. Across all groups, there has been an emphasis on flexibility of policies to reduce bureaucratic hurdles. Housing affordability was also a common theme voiced by all groups as a challenge to achieving climate goals. Multiple groups voiced concern over being able to provide affordable housing, achieve density goals, and maintain legacy tree canopy. Practicality and ambition of greenhouse gas reduction goals was frequently cited as a point of apprehension.
Additional opportunities for community feedback on the development of climate goals and policies will be provided throughout the Climate Element update process. Upon completion of the community engagement phase, staff will prepare a summary of community feedback that informed the development of the draft goals and policies.
Options:
None - No action requested.
Attachments:
Engage Page
Draft Goals and Policies