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Washington State Climate Resilience Strategy
September 2024
In September 2024, the Washington State Department of Ecology and partner agencies released an update to the state’s Climate Resilience Strategy.
Related Organizations: Washington State Department of Ecology
Resource Category: Planning
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Washington HB 1181: Climate Change in Local Comprehensive Planning
July 23, 2023
In July 2023, the Washington State Legislature enacted HB 1181, requiring many local governments in the state to plan for climate change impacts as part of their comprehensive planning processes. The legislation integrates these new requirements by amending the local planning requirements in the state’s Growth Management Law.
Related Organizations: Washington State Department of Ecology
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Washington HB 1578: Cascading Impacts of Wildfires Act
May 10, 2023
On May 10, 2023, the State of Washington updated its existing wildfire prevention regime by passing HB 1578, the Cascading Impacts of Wildfires Act, intended to improve community preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience to wildfires. HB 1578 was passed with consideration of the impacts of climate change on the forestry surrounding Western Washington, where there is considerable population growth. Additionally, the Washington Legislature concluded that the effects of wildfire smoke are hazardous, and it is consistent with the state’s environmental justice goals to protect public health through a wildfire prevention strategy.
Related Organizations: State of Washington
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Washington HB 1170: Integrated Climate Response Strategy - Updates
April 26, 2023
Washington HB 1170, passed in April of 2023, looks to improve climate resilience in Washington by updating the state’s 2012 integrated climate response strategy. Legislative findings that climate change is rapidly progressing in Washington and its citizens are already facing its impacts indicate the need for an updated strategy. HB 1170 seeks to further prepare Washington’s population by updating its resilience strategy through better cross-agency coordination, which will lower the cost of resilience and be more efficient.
Related Organizations: Washington State Department of Ecology
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Washington HB 1728: Disaster Resiliency Program
April 21, 2023
Washington passed HB 1728 on April 21, 2023, creating a new state-wide resiliency program to be established and administered by the state’s Emergency Management Division. The main objectives of the resiliency program are to ensure “ongoing coordination of state and local disaster resilience and response activities,” develop “strategies for addressing the impacts of all hazards,” and participate and collaborate in interagency efforts to advance statewide climate resilience activities, including the development of the state’s updated integrated climate change response strategy.
Related Organizations: State of Washington
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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TerrAdapt: Cascadia Tool
2017
The TerrAdapt:Cascadia tool, founded by a team of practitioners and scientists, is a visualization tool for monitoring habitats and habitat connectivity across the Cascadia region, which covers Washington and portions of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and British Columbia. The tool projects habitat and ecosystem scenarios utilizing climate and land-use data, and can help users prioritize conservation practices in at-risk areas. In partnership with Cascadia Partners Forum and other regional users, the non-profit TerrAdapt.
Related Organizations: TerrAdapt, Cascadia Partners Forum
Resource Category: Data and tools
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Climate Mapping for a Resilient Washington Tool
December 2022
The “Climate Impacts for a Resilient Washington” tool was developed by the Climate Impacts Group (in partnership with the University of Idaho’s Research Data & Computer Services for web development) to provide easily accessible climate information for decisionmakers working on resilience in Washington state. The tool is primarily intended for local governments, state agencies, and other officials who are considering resilience plan changes and submitting grant applications; and GIS professionals, planners, engineers, outreach specialists, and other technical staff members.
Related Organizations: University of Washington Climate Impacts Group
Resource Category: Data and tools
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Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Climate Change Program
The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) is a nonprofit organization representing 57 Northwest tribal governments from Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Southeast Alaska, Northern California and Western Montana. The ATNI Climate Change Program supports member Tribes with best practices to address and adapt to climate change, serving as a clearinghouse for, and coordinator of, tribal and intertribal efforts. ATNI prioritizes climate resilience strategies that protect tribal treaty rights and trust resources.
Related Organizations: Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
Resource Category: Education and Outreach
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Annexing Higher Ground and Preparing Receiving Areas in Hamilton, Washington
June 2021
In 2019, after decades of repetitive flooding, the town of Hamilton in Skagit County, Washington partnered with Forterra, a local land conservancy nonprofit, to annex a 48-acre parcel of land located outside of the town’s 100-year floodplain. Annexing this land will provide Hamilton with a higher, drier ground area where town residents could voluntarily relocate to new homes. Forterra is developing plans for the annexed parcel to build affordable, environmentally conscious homes for Hamilton residents. Hamilton provides an example for other municipalities and local governments either in a pre- or post-disaster context for revitalizing a community challenged by frequent flooding through adaptation actions. As done in Hamilton, local governments may consider possibilities for providing relocation options to residents within a floodplain, including by annexing new land, particularly where sufficient higher ground land within existing municipal boundaries is not available. Annexation can allow local governments to maintain local communities, tax bases, and economies.
Resource Category: Solutions
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Seattle Public Utilities - Utility Discount Program
2020
In recent years, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), which is the city’s water utility and provides drinking water and wastewater treatment, has strongly emphasized community engagement and equity issues through the creation of a variety of organizations and programs. One organization, Connect Capital, which is comprised of SPU staff and members of a community foundation and a community organization, advises SPU on how to ensure that the benefits of future investments are equitable and address climate threats to those at risk of displacement. One result of Connect Capital’s encouragement is SPU’s investment in infrastructure in frontline communities, such as the South Park Neighborhood. Another equitable initiative under SPU is the Utility Discount Program, under which seniors, persons with disabilities, and low-income customers receive a reduction in their water and electricity bills. Households with incomes at or below 70% of state median income pay only 50% of their SPU bill. Further still, SPU’s Environmental Justice and Service Equity Division aims to promote inclusive community engagement and collaboration.
Related Organizations: Seattle Public Utilities
Resource Category: Solutions
