Title
Climate Mitigation and Sea Level Rise Response Update
Recommended Action
Information only. No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Receive an update on the implementation of the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan and Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan.
Staff Contact:
Pamela Braff, PhD, Director of Climate Programs, Office of Community Vitality, 360.753.8249
Presenter:
Pamela Braff, PhD, Director of Climate Programs
Background and Analysis:
Regional Climate Mitigation Planning
In April 2018, Thurston County, Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) began the first phase of work to develop a regional climate mitigation plan. Phase I resulted in the following regional greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets:
• Reduce emissions 45% below by 2030, compared to a 2015 baseline.
• Reduce emissions 85% below by 2050, compared to a 2015 baseline.
In February 2021, all partner jurisdictions accepted the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan (TCMP) as a common framework to achieve the regionally adopted emissions reduction targets. TRPC continued to provide support for regional coordination and implementation through August 2023.
In October 2023, the partner jurisdictions approved a new interlocal agreement and structure for regional collaboration. The new structure establishes the Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative (TCMC) as an umbrella term for the partnership, and renames the groups involved in implementation to better reflect their clarified roles: Jurisdiction Parties, an Executive Committee (replaces the Climate Action Steering Committee), a Staff Team (replaces the Multijurisdictional Staff Team), and a Community Advisory Workgroup (replaces the Climate Advisory Workgroup).
• The Executive Committee champions implementation of climate mitigation actions and meets quarterly (public meetings) to review progress and build partnerships to support implementation of the TCMP.
• The Staff Team implements the TCMP on behalf of the Jurisdiction Parties and meets regularly to coordinate regional actions.
• The Community Advisory Workgroup (CAW) meets regularly (up to 12 times a year) to provide community perspectives and feedback on climate mitigation progress and priorities to the Jurisdiction Parties, Staff Team, and Executive Committee.
Local Climate Mitigation Progress
In addition to participating in the Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative, the City of Olympia has also joined the Cities Race to Zero Campaign, pledging to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 and set an interim 2030 target that is aligned with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. In 2021, Olympia established the following local greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets:
• Reduce emissions 59% by 2030, compared to a 2019 baseline.
• Achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.
Key climate mitigation activities from 2023 include:
• Implementing a citywide Climate and Equity framework to evaluate all city policies, plans, and projects.
• Developing and adopting a city-wide EV-Ready Parking Policy.
• Developing and adopting an electric vehicle fleet vehicle acquisition policy for city fleet vehicles.
• Launching the Energize Olympia Pilot Program to support the installation of ductless heat pumps for Olympia residents.
• Conducting a community-wide greenhouse gas inventory and analysis of emissions reduction strategies.
• Conducting a Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment.
• Establishing the Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative to support regional implementation of the TCMP.
A complete description of Olympia’s 2023 Climate Mitigation Work Program is provided in the attachments.
Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan
The Sea Level Rise (SLR) Response Plan was developed in 2018-2019 through a joint planning effort between the City of Olympia, Port of Olympia, and LOTT Clean Water Alliance. The SLR Response Plan provides a coordinated strategy to protect downtown Olympia and the Port peninsula from the impacts of sea level rise. The plan identifies needed actions, estimated costs, implementation schedules, and partner responsibilities.
In 2021, the City of Olympia, Port, and LOTT established the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Collaborative to guide and support long-term implementation of the SLR Response Plan. The SLR Collaborative is made up of an executive committee of elected officials representing the member organizations and a staff-level technical work group. Thurston County, the Squaxin Island Tribe, and Washington State Department of Enterprise Services have also joined the Collaborative as non-voting, ex-officio members.
Sea Level Rise Response Progress
The Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Collaborative has been working on the following actions in 2023 to support implementation of the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan.
• Install a tide gauge at the port marine terminal to improve monitoring of local water level conditions.
• Perform a satellite land subsidence survey to improve our understanding of local subsidence rates.
• Conduct a groundwater study to evaluate tidal influence and the potential impact of sea level rise on groundwater levels.
• Evaluate potential financing and governance mechanisms to fund and implement the Sea Level Rise Response Plan.
Climate Analysis:
Local implementation of the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan is expected to result in a long-term reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Key activities implemented in 2023 will help: increase energy efficiency and phase out natural gas for Olympia households by supporting the installation of ductless heat pumps; increase the adoption of electric vehicles by requiring the provision of EV charging in new parking and development; and ensure climate mitigation is considered in all City plans and policies.
Equity Analysis:
Climate change affects everyone, but it does not affect all people equally. Some communities experience disproportionate climate impacts due to existing vulnerabilities and socioeconomic disparities, as well systemic environmental injustices. Low-income communities, people of color, indigenous people, and people with disabilities are often more vulnerable to climate risks and face greater barriers to benefit from climate action. Staff will consider who is benefited and who is impacted as a part of all actions to implement the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan and Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There is considerable community interest in climate mitigation and adaptation, including sea level rise planning and implementation of flood protection measures in downtown Olympia.
Options:
Information only. No action requested.
Financial Impact:
None at this time. Long-term costs to achieve Olympia’s greenhouse gas reduction targets and prepare for local impacts of climate change are expected to be significant over time. Future funding will be necessary to achieve these goals.
Attachment:
2023 Climate Work Program