Seeking public comments
Draft guidance for adding a climate element to local comprehensive plans?
The Washington State Department of Commerce has drafted guidance for adding a climate element (Box .pdf) into local comprehensive plans. This guidance provides recommendations to cities and counties for voluntarily developing or updating a climate element as a part of their growth management periodic comprehensive plan.
Climate planning under the Growth Management Act acknowledges that environmental impacts will vary across the state. Forest fires and dry weather may be an issue in one area while sea level rise may be the concern in another. Commerce's guidance on planning for climate impacts is therefore focused on supporting locally based - rather than statewide - activities.
The draft guidance begins with recommendations on building a local Climate Policy Advisory Team. It then provides optional pathways for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing community preparedness for climate-related impacts. All of these paths ideally culminate in a holistic climate element in the jurisdiction's comprehensive plan that formalizes the need for climate planning to address specific environmental concerns across the community.
Public comment period open now
Public review and comment on the?draft is open now through April 24, 2023.
View/download draft document (Box .pdf)
Please submit general feedback?and questions to [email protected].
Your participation is appreciated.
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