Cities and counties planning under the Growth Management Act must have a climate element as part of their comprehensive plan. This page links to information on planning guidance, policy tools, grants and other resources that can help local governments develop a climate element that mitigates greenhouse gas emissions and builds community resilience.
Planning for climate change
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.
Climate planning resources
Commerce will be updating the Washington Administrative Code to provide guidance that cities and counties can use when developing comprehensive plan updates and describe new regulatory authority by which Commerce will review and approve city and county climate elements submitted as part of comprehensive plan updates. Please see the following link to our rulemaking page.
Jurisdictions that are required to complete a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction sub-element per RCW 36.70A.095 may voluntarily request Commerce approval of their sub-element. If Commerce approves the submitted sub-element, Commerce would then defend its decision before the state’s Growth Management Hearings Board, should the sub-element be appealed.
RCW 36.70A.096 requires jurisdictions seeking approval of their sub-element to provide a written notice of intent (NOI) to apply 120 days prior to local adoption. Jurisdictions will then submit their application for approval to Commerce within 10-days after local adoption. Commerce shall strive to approve or deny an application within 180 days of the date of receipt of the application.
Refer to our Greenhouse Gas Approval Fact Sheet (PDF) for detailed information.
If you are interested in getting your GHG reduction sub-element approved, please email gmsclimate@commerce.wa.gov.
Jurisdictions requesting GHG subelement approval
Having trouble? View the jurisdictions requesting approval table on its own.
Climate support from Commerce is provided 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.