Title
Olympia 2045: Climate Element of the Comprehensive Plan Update
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
No action requested.
City Manager Recommendation:
No action requested.
Staff Contact:
Natalie Weiss, Climate Resilience Coordinator, City Manager's Office, Climate Program, 360.570.5828
Presenters:
Jaron Burke, Climate Program Specialist
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 most cities and counties, including Olympia, to adopt and periodically update a comprehensive plan to accommodate the succeeding 20 years of growth and establish the primary goals and policies to 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 now requires local comprehensive plans to have sub-elements 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.
The Climate Element in the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan
The City of Olympia is taking an integrative approach to the Climate Element; each of the Climate goals and policies will "live" within other chapters. In other words, all chapters of the Comprehensive Plan will include goals and/or policies that further climate action and resilience related to the sector. This approach was decided and detaile...
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