Climate Element and Resiliency Subelement
Project Overview
Legislation signed into law in 2023 (HB1181) added a climate goal to the Growth Management Act (GMA) and requires local comprehensive plans to have a climate element. Climate elements must maximize economic, environmental, and social co-benefits and prioritize environmental justice in order to avoid worsening environmental health disparities. A climate element can take the form of a single comprehensive plan chapter or be integrated into several chapters/elements such as housing, transportation, and land use.
The climate resilience subelement is mandatory for all fully-planning jurisdictions under the Growth Management Act (GMA). The resilience subelement is required to:
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Address natural hazards created or aggravated by climate change, including drought and wildfire,
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Identify, protect, and enhance natural areas to foster climate resilience, and
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Identify, protect, and enhance community resilience to climate impacts, including social, economic, and built-environment factors
The Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan Update is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.