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.

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 in August 2020. If you are interested in periodic email updates on King County climate action, please subscribe to King County's climate action email topic.

2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan Update page

Request a climate presentation or workshop
Request a member of the King County Climate Action Team to come provide a tailored presentation or interactive workshop on King County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP) to your organization, coalition meeting, board meeting, youth group, class, or other gathering. This is a great opportunity for your participants to give input on the 2020 update of the Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP).

If you are interested in having a climate presentation or workshop for your group, please fill out a request form. *Due to staff capacity we may not be able to accommodate all requests but we will do our best to meet the needs of your organization or group.*

Fill out a request form

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

The final 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan will be developed and transmitted by King County Executive Dow Constantine to the King County Council in August 2020.

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:

2017 SCAP Biennial Report – Measuring our Progress

Read the past SCAP reports here:

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.
- Dept. of Natural Resources and Parks Beyond Carbon Neutral Initiative
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.