CLIMATE RESILIENCY ELEMENT

In 2023, the State of Washington made it mandatory for all comprehensive plans to include a Climate Resilience Element (also called a chapter). The state’s intent for this element is to build community resilience across the state against extreme weather events, such as wildfires. As part of the 2027 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update, the City of Chewelah will be developing a Climate Element. The development of this document will be funded through grants issued by the Department of Commerce. The City of Chewelah has been awarded $100,000; each deliverable will be submitted to the Department of Commerce with a Memo describing findings and actions. 

PARTICIPATE IN CLIMATE RESILIENCY PLANNING

GRANT DELIVERABLES

Each deliverable will be submitted to the Department of Commerce.

Deliverable 1: Planning and Engagement

Deliverable 2: Explore Climate Impacts

Deliverable 3: Audit Plans and Policies

Deliverable 4: Access Vulnerability and Risk

Deliverable 5: Pursue Pathways by Developing Climate Goals & Policies

Deliverable 6: Integrate Goals and Policies

Deliverable 7: Outreach Report

Deliverable 8: Submit Resiliency Element

CLIMATE POLICY ADVISORY TEAM

To help lead climate resilience efforts, a Climate Policy Advisory Team, composed of city leadership and other community members, will meet four times over the next year to develop this element.

CPAT Tasks

  • Determine community assets, weather-related hazards, and risks in the City of Colville.

  • Analyze the risk to community assets and residents from the identified hazards.

  • Create goals and policies to guide the city in reducing risk from climate-related weather events.

  • Review the final Climate Element that will be part of the 2027 Comprehensive Plan.

The CPAT will be comprised of community members who reflect the culture and concerns of Chewelah. The intent is to provide a practical planning guide to make the city more resilient.

Get involved

Planning for resiliency should be incorporated into all aspects of the comprehensive plan; therefore, components of the climate element will be present across all public engagement activities. If you have any specific concerns about climate change, please contact us directly via the Contact Link, and we will reach out to you to address them.

contact us

Interested in learning more?

  • Click here to read HB 1181, which aims to improve the state's response to climate change by updating the state's planning framework.

  • Click here to visit the Washington Department of Commerce’s guidance on planning grants available for 2027 jurisdictions.

  • Click here to visit the Washington Department of Commerce’s planning guidance Storymap on climate planning law.