Comprehensive Plan Climate Element

 In 2023, Washington State amended the Growth Management Act through House Bill 1181, which now requires cities and counties to incorporate climate mitigation and resilience policies into their comprehensive plan updates. In response, the City of Gig Harbor is excited to announce the development of a new Climate Element as part of our 2025 Comprehensive Plan update.

The Climate Element will focus on building resilience to climate and environmental impacts while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It consists of two key sub-elements: resilience and emissions reduction.

 In October 2023, the City Council adopted a Climate Action Plan (CAP), which outlines specific strategies and actions to address climate issues. While the CAP shares some similarities with the Climate Element, the latter includes a comprehensive vulnerability assessment. This assessment will identify communities that are most at risk due to anticipated changes in our local environment.

 The Climate Element will be integrated into the city’s Comprehensive Plan, which serves as our guiding framework for sustainable development and connects various sectors within Gig Harbor. The findings from the Vulnerability Assessment, combined with the strategies outlined in the Climate Action Plan, will inform actionable initiatives to meet our climate goals. Together, these efforts will culminate in a new chapter dedicated to Climate Change and Resilience in the Comprehensive Plan.

As part of our Climate Change Element, Gig Harbor has developed a Vulnerability Assessment for the City. This assessment details potential risks on private and public property from future sea-level rise, flooding, heat events and other climate issues

 **Get Involved!**

 Community engagement is crucial to the success of this initiative. We invite Gig Harbor residents to share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas as we develop the Climate Element. Your input will help shape our priorities and inform the outreach process, building on the findings from the Climate Action Plan and Vulnerability Assessment.

 As we progress in this process, we will continually update this page with information about events, surveys, and other engagement opportunities. 

Thank you to all who participated in our online survey, we appreciate you taking the time to provide valuable input to shape the Climate Element.

 For more information and to find out how you can engage with us, please reach out to Community Development Director, Eric Baker at 253-530-7073 and EBaker@gigharborwa.gov.  We look forward to working together to create a resilient and sustainable future for Gig Harbor.