Tacoma’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions began in 2005 when Mayor Bill Baarsma signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. In 2007, the Tacoma City Council established the Green Ribbon Task Force on Climate Change to develop strategies for aligning the city’s efforts with the Kyoto Protocol’s reduction goals. The Task Force, consisting of 25 diverse community representatives, was tasked with creating the City of Tacoma Climate Action Plan (CAP).

Over a year, the Task Force reviewed various climate action plans and engaged the community through public meetings and an online survey, gathering input to shape their recommendations. In May 2008, they proposed over 40 new climate strategies, which became the foundation of the 2008 CAP, unanimously adopted by the City Council in July of that same year. Key outcomes included the creation of the Office of Sustainability and the Sustainable Tacoma Commission in 2009. The CAP has remained a priority for the City Council and serves as a cornerstone for Tacoma’s ongoing sustainability efforts.

In April 2016, the Tacoma City Council adopted Resolution 39427 pledging to provide guidance and investments to meet the target goals for the Plan. This support will help Tacoma respond to climate change and make Tacoma a safer, healthier, and more equitable city for its residents. The 2016 Environmental Action Plan EAP sets the path for both the City of Tacoma and the community to take meaningful action in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It supports the climate goals established in the 2008 Climate Action Plan and outlines high-priority actions for the City and community to achieve between 2016 and 2020, in alignment with the environmental objectives in the Tacoma 2025 Strategic Plan.

The 2008 Climate Action Plan (CAP) was Tacoma’s first step in establishing carbon reduction goals and strategies. The Plan’s top recommendations led to the creation of the Office of Sustainability and the Sustainable Tacoma Commission, both of which were established in the spring of 2009 to drive the City’s sustainability efforts.

The Climate Action Plan focuses on delivering tangible benefits to the community by prioritizing policies, programs, and projects designed with an equity lens. This means addressing multiple community needs—such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving health, safety, housing, and transportation, and creating green living-wage jobs.

Effective implementation requires strong partnerships at all levels, prioritizing neighborhoods most impacted by climate change, and building community capacity. Collaboration with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and trusted local leaders is essential as we navigate this path toward a more sustainable and equitable future.

From climate impacts, to environmental justice, to health and economic crises – we need to prioritize actions that reduce negative impacts and increase positive opportunities for all our communities, especially those made most vulnerable. Resolution No. 40509 declaring a climate emergency in Tacoma, directed the City of Tacoma to engage and collaborate with community members and those most burdened by environmental impacts through new partnerships as we update City plans and policies. Working with the EJ Leaders Workgroup and Climate Action Ambassadors helps us achieve this goal and create a more inclusive and robust plan. The updated plan that results from this process, to be adopted by Tacoma City Council in late 2021, will direct funding and actions to help you and our community.

Throughout the climate action planning process, the City of Tacoma will prioritize voices from frontline communities, including communities of color, youth and young adults, and other historically underrepresented, underserved, or vulnerable groups. Input will also be encouraged from all community members who live, work, or play in Tacoma.

To ensure we’re reaching all parts of our community and achieving equitable outcomes, we encourage participants to provide demographic information. This information, while optional, helps us identify which voices are being heard and which are missing, allowing us to refine our engagement and outreach strategies to be more inclusive as we move forward.

The Climate Action Plan (CAP) Progress Reports are all about transparency—sharing both the successes and the areas where we need to improve. The 2022 CAP was the first year of a three-year plan for near-term actions, and our targets are set for 2030, it’s crucial to track our progress from the beginning.