The purpose of climate action planning is to ensure an equity centered, anti-racist, and transformative approach to updating the City of Tacoma's Environmental Action Plan. This process will lead to a renewed focus on climate action and environmental justice in the updated plan.

 

To create an inclusive and comprehensive climate action and environmental justice-focused plan, we have expanded the planning process to include a group of Environmental Justice Leaders who will incorporate their perspectives and visions of climate justice in Tacoma into the Plan. We have also gathered a group of community Climate Action Ambassadors to help us build strong and lasting relationships with diverse communities in Tacoma and to collect community input on key concerns, interests, and actions. Our goal through this process is to reach more communities, especially those who are most impacted by climate change and whose voices are often marginalized. 

The new climate action plan will serve as a guiding document for shared climate solutions, environmental protections, and community resilience - putting people first and prioritizing those communities most vulnerable to climate impacts. We need input from diverse community voices to develop a transformational plan, and to help build a safe and sustainable future. This plan, intended for adoption by Tacoma City Council in late 2021, will direct strategies, investments, and actions that work to create a better Tacoma for all.

From climate impacts, to environmental justice, to health and economic crises – we need to prioritize actions that reduce negative impacts and increase positive opportunities for all our communities, especially those made most vulnerable. Resolution No. 40509 declaring a climate emergency in Tacoma, directed the City of Tacoma to engage and collaborate with community members and those most burdened by environmental impacts through new partnerships as we update City plans and policies. Working with the EJ Leaders Workgroup and Climate Action Ambassadors helps us achieve this goal and create a more inclusive and robust plan. The updated plan that results from this process, to be adopted by Tacoma City Council in late 2021, will direct funding and actions to help you and our community.

Throughout the climate action planning process, the City of Tacoma will prioritize voices from frontline communities, including communities of color, youth and young adults, and other historically underrepresented, underserved, or vulnerable groups. Input will also be encouraged from all community members who live, work, or play in Tacoma.

 

In order to understand which groups we are reaching and to better ensure equitable outcomes for the community, we are asking participants in the climate action planning process for their demographic information. While not required to provide, demographic information is an important tool for the City to understand whose voices we are hearing and which groups are still underrepresented in our planning process so that we can adjust our engagement and outreach strategies as we go.

Climate action planning will be a year-long process from September 2020 to September 2021. The planning process includes three phases. The first Phase, beginning in September 2020 and continuing through the end of the year, will focus on gathering baseline data on our current City greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change and baseline data from the community about their priorities and concerns. Phase 1 information will direct Phase 2 analysis of priorities and design of potential strategies and solutions that match these priorities. During Phase 2 from January to April of 2021, strategies and solutions for climate action will be shared with community members for input. The final phase, Phase 3 from May to September 2021, will focus on synthesizing all of the input and data we have collected through this process into a draft plan that will go to community groups and City staff for review before it is presented to City Council for adoption. See the Planning Timeline above for a summary of this information.

The City of Tacoma is partnering with Citizens for a Healthy Bay to prioritize engagement that supports community-led strategies, and to reduce participation barriers for all community members.

 

You can get involved by sharing your input on the future you want for our City right now by responding to a short online activity here!

 

Though applications to join the EJ Leaders Workgroup and Phase 1 Climate Action Ambassador cohort are now closed, there may be new opportunities to get involved during Phase 2 starting January 2021. 

 

For updates on the climate action planning process and for more information on how your input is used by the City, send us an email.

 

If you have questions about getting involved in the planning process, contact Erin Dilworth at Citizens for a Healthy Bay.

Right now, the climate action planning process is taking place all across Tacoma. However, the format and frequency of community engagement activities will depend on COVID-19 safety guidelines.

 

Our EJ Leader Workgroup is currently meeting online. Similarly, Climate Action Ambassador trainings are taking place online and all Ambassador planned outreach events will follow Covid-19 safety guidelines. These planning activities will be adapted as health and safety circumstances change.