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  1. Climate strategies
  2. Strategic Climate Action Plan

King County Strategic Climate Action Plan

King County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) is a five-year blueprint for County action to confront climate change, integrating climate change into all areas of County operations and its work in the community. The SCAP provides a “one-stop-shop” for county decision-makers, employees, and the general public to learn about the County’s climate change goals, priorities and commitments.

On this page:

Panorama of University of Washigton, Lake Washington and Montlake Cut

2020 SCAP Update

King County is updating its Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) in 2020 that will outline the County’s actions on climate change for the next five years. The 2020 SCAP update will focus on reducing regional greenhouse gas emissions, preparing for climate change impacts, and supporting resilience in communities disproportionately impacted by climate change.

The County will be updating, revising, and adding to the SCAP to ensure County work continues to achieve our regional greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, identify new opportunities to take action on climate solutions, and create social, economic and environmental benefits for King County communities.

Throughout 2019 and 2020 King County staff will engage partners and communities to learn about their interests and priorities for County climate action. An updated SCAP will be developed and transmitted by King County Executive Dow Constantine to the King County Council by June 30th, 2020. If you are interested in periodic email updates on King County climate action, please subscribe to King County's climate action email topic.

Strategic Climate Action Plan coverKing County is seeking public input on the 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) update which will focus on reducing regional greenhouse gas emissions, preparing for climate change impacts, and supporting resilience in communities disproportionally impacted by climate change. By providing your input, you can help inform the priorities included in the 2020 SCAP to reflect the values and concerns of King County communities.
Share your ideas

Public meeting - Strategic Climate Action Plan King County is hosting five community meetings across King County throughout July 2019, focused on potential changes to the County’s Comprehensive Plan. Staff from King County’s Climate Action Team will be tabling to share about climate change work and gather your ideas for the development of priorities for the 2020 SCAP.

Learn how to participate

King County 2105 Strategic Climate Action Plan team

2015 SCAP

The 2015 Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) is a five-year blueprint for County action to confront climate change, integrating climate change into all areas of County operations and its work in the community.

The SCAP guides County work to achieve ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, prepare for the impacts of a changing climate, and ensure that King County continues to lead on climate action.

In addition to establishing targets and performance measures to track and assess the County’s progress, the 2015 SCAP details more than 70 Priority Actions for the King County to carry out. These actions cover diverse strategies including transit, renewable energy, green building, recycling, and preparing for local climate impacts. Actions to reduce GHG emissions and prepare for climate impacts are embedded and integrated into the operations, services, and capital plans of all County agencies.

Read the 2015 SCAP here:

Read our progress reports here:

Read the past SCAP reports here:

Metro bus tunnel

Reports and plans

  • Carbon Neutral Implementation (2019)
    The new Carbon Neutral Implementation Plan recommends that King County’s 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) establish new stronger goals for government operations to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25% by 2020, 50% by 2025 and 80% by 2030.
  • Blueprint for Addressing Climate Change and Health
    Public Health – Seattle & King County developed a Blueprint for Addressing Climate change and health which describes the impacts of climate change on people in our region. It is intended to be used as a tool for putting people at the center of the climate change conversation.
  • King County Renewable Electricity Transition Pathways (2018)
    King County, in coordination with community, utility, and local government stakeholders, developed a study that outlines policies and investments to achieve a goal of 90% renewable electricity supply county-wide by 2030.
  • King County Operational Cost of Carbon Report (2018)
    This report develops an internal ‘cost of carbon’ to be used in government processes and decision-making and summarizes guidance for County agencies on how to use this information to inform analysis of capital projects, major fuel and vehicle purchases, resource efficiency investments, and other County operations decisions.