The climate is changing. While Seattle is committed to becoming a carbon neutral city by 2050, we must prepare for a changing climate even while making strides in reducing our climate pollution.
The most significant changes Seattleites will see are increases in temperature, precipitation, and sea level but the extra twist is that climate change will also shift the frequency, intensity, magnitude, and timing for these events. Even more sobering, these extreme weather events will fall hardest on Seattle’s communities of color and lower income communities, who tend to have the fewest resources to recover from such events.
Building on the 2013 Climate Action Plan, OSE is leading a citywide process to identify vulnerabilities and preparedness actions to enhance our resilience to these changing conditions. The Preparedness Strategy will focus on transportation, land use and buildings, parks and natural systems, and health and human services. Equity is a core planning principle for the strategy, and we are forging new and durable partnerships with community-based organizations to advance climate justice.
The strategy will also include an overview of Seattle Public Utilities’ and Seattle City Light’s industry-leading climate preparedness work to provide a comprehensive picture across the range of city programs and services.
Stay tuned as details of the planning process and community engagement opportunities emerge. Together, we will work to make Seattle a resilient and equitable city even as the climate changes.