HB 1170 Ch 169 2023-24, Integrated Climate Change Response Strategy - Updates

This legislation amended the statute that authorized Washington's initial integrated climate response strategy. It requires state agencies to produce an updated statewide climate resilience strategy by September 30, 2024 and to provide recommendations on a governance structure for coordinating climate resilience activities. By updating the strategy, the state will be able to bring together work across multiple agencies, identify gaps and actions that address the highest climate change risks and vulnerabilities and embed environmental justice and equity in our state work to advance climate resilience.

The law also requires ongoing progress reports and establishes a four-year cycle for strategy updates. It also directs the state to better coordinate around federal funding opportunities for climate resilience through an interagency work group. The law strengthens requirements for agencies to integrate climate change into their activities and decision-making processes. Finally, the law designates the University of Washington's Climate Impacts Group as the technical and scientific clearinghouse on climate impacts for state agencies.

As Washington’s lead agency on climate change, the Department of Ecology is working to update the state's current Climate Response Strategy by September 30, 2024, as directed by the Legislature under the Integrated Climate Change Response Strategy. The Department of Ecology released a draft of the Strategy and accepted public comments from June 11 to July 11, 2024.

Draft: Washington State Climate Resilience Strategy

Washington state agencies will produce an updated statewide climate resilience strategy by September 30, 2024 and provide recommendations on a governance structure for coordinating climate resilience activities.

Washington's Climate Strategy

Action History

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