Title
Climate Action Plan Implementation
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a briefing on Olympia’s climate change response and implementation of the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a briefing on Olympia’s climate change response and implementation of the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan.
Staff Contact:
Pamela Braff, PhD, Climate Program Manager, City Manager’s Office, 360.753.8249
Presenter(s):
Pamela Braff, PhD, Climate Program Manager
Background and Analysis:
Climate Action Goals
In April 2018, Thurston County, Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and Thurston Regional Planning Council 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:
• 45% below 2015 levels by 2030
• 85% below 2015 levels by 2050
Over the next two years, the partner jurisdictions worked together to develop a regional climate mitigation plan. In February 2021, all partners accepted the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan (TCMP) as a common framework to achieve the regionally adopted emissions reduction targets.
In 2021, Olympia also joined the Cities Race to Zero, pledging to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 and set an interim 2030 science-based target, which reflects Olympia’s fair share of a 50% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. In April 2022, Olympia City Council passed Resolution M-2320, pledging to reduce citywide greenhouse gas emissions:
• 59% below 2019 levels by 2030
• Net-zero by 2040
Implementation Progress
In January 2021, the City of Olympia established a new climate program and one full-time staff position to lead Olympia’s implementation of the TCMP and other actions to support climate preparedness and adaptation.
Key progress to date includes:
• Building staff capacity to integrate climate action across all levels of city policy, planning, and decision-making.
• Reducing facility energy consumption and preparing to electrify city facilities and fleet vehicles.
• Developing new policies and programs to reduce community-wide emissions related to transportation and the built environment.
• Designing and implementing projects to make it easier to walk, bike, and ride transit.
• Supporting regional coordination of the TCMP.
• Initiating a new program focus area on climate preparedness and adaptation.
During this presentation, climate program staff will provide an overview of program accomplishments and anticipated next steps.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Since the Acceptance of the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan in February 2021, community members have continued to urge the City to take immediate and ambitious action to address climate change.
Options:
1. Receive the briefing.
2. Do not receive the briefing.
3. Receive the briefing at another time.
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. Additional funding will be necessary to achieve these goals.
Attachments:
Presentation
Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan