Using Growth Management Act, WA lawmakers can create resilient climate future. Here’s how
In November 2021 world leaders met in Scotland to set ambitious goals for curbing the ravages of global warming. President Biden identified the biggest contributors to the increased heating of the planet and set goals to reduce carbon emissions of automobiles and protect farms and forests.
Although there has not been a united response worldwide, 10 states in the United States did reduce carbon emissions by implementing solar and other energy efficiencies that helped their local economies. Their effort met the goals of the 2015 Paris Accord. Washington state was one of these leaders.
This year our state Legislature is in position to pass several bills that will implement the promises President Biden made in Scotland. For the last 30 years our state has used the Growth Management Act to protect working farms, forests and wildlife corridors from suburban sprawl. It is this tool that ensures that we build livable cities and towns which have adequate schools, transportation and parks. Now with increased flooding, fires and droughts, we need to give cities, counties and towns more tools to plan for a resilient climate future.
Reducing greenhouses gases
Last year the Legislature took initial steps to address climate change by creating resilient communities, protecting our most vulnerable populations and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. House Bill 1099 is well-positioned to pass this session as the legislature laid important groundwork last year by providing funding for the Department of Commerce to create the programs that would help counties and cities implement the bill.
House Bill 1099 adds a climate change goal to our state’s Growth Management Act. It requires the fastest growing counties and cities to use programs the Department of Commerce developed to reduce their vehicle miles traveled and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet state goals for reduction. It also requires counties and cities to address the impact of climate hazards on people, property and natural areas
Affordable housing
In Tacoma and Lakewood, we have livable cities with good schools, abundant parks and libraries. Yet high rents are dislocating over 30% of the people who work in our county — workers who can’t afford to live among us. New legislation in HB 1220, signed into law in 2021, will work to end income and race-based discrimination in our housing policy.
The City of Tacoma and Pierce County in Spanaway have taken the first steps toward creating dense, walkable and transit-oriented communities along major arterials. House Bill 1220 will provide guidelines for jurisdictions across the state to address and implement comprehensive solutions to the housing crisis.
Implementing housing equity policies is expensive. HB 1220 has requirements to identify communities at high risk of gentrification and implement anti-displacement policies. These programs and regulations will prevent people from being priced out of their neighborhoods.
Many of these people do the hard work in our towns in low-wage jobs. They deserve to live in the towns where they work. The state legislature needs to allocate funding to local governments and to community-based organizations to implement HB 1220. By doing this, we can ensure that the policy solutions that come from HB 1220 actually meet the needs of the communities most impacted.
Our governor and our legislature have been leaders in implementing our national climate change goals. When we update the Growth Management Act in 2024, we can show other states that in planning for the impacts of climate change we can share our vibrant economy by increasing affordable housing and by protecting farms and forests. This is within reach.
Kirk Kirkland of Tacoma is a former board member of Futurewise. He has worked on implementing the Growth Management Act in Pierce County for over 25 years.
This story was originally published January 8, 2022 at 5:00 AM.