Tri-Cities communities develop first climate plans required under state law
The Brief
• The Tri-Cities Regional Climate Element addresses extreme heat, wildfire smoke, drought, and other climate challenges
• State law now requires every city and county to include climate planning in their Comprehensive Plans
• Public feedback on the draft plan is accepted until October 8, with final adoption expected this fall
TRI-CITIES, Wash. — Communities across the Tri-Cities are developing their first climate adaptation plans as new state requirements mandate local governments address climate change impacts in their long-term planning processes.
The Benton-Franklin Council of Governments is coordinating with Benton County and the cities of Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, and West Richland to create the Tri-Cities Regional Climate Element. The collaborative effort represents the region’s response to state legislation requiring climate considerations in municipal planning.
The comprehensive plan addresses multiple climate-related challenges facing the region, including extreme heat events, wildfire smoke exposure, drought conditions, and other environmental impacts expected to intensify in coming years.
Elizabeth Garcia, Community and Environmental Regional Planner for the Benton Franklin Council of Governments, explained the new state requirements that drive this planning effort.
“Now they have to include climate and then under that they have to do all those strategies and policies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions like VMT — vehicle miles traveled — or like response and recovery,” Garcia said.
The state law marks the first time Washington communities must incorporate climate planning into their official Comprehensive Plans, representing a significant shift in how local governments approach long-term development and emergency preparedness.
The draft Regional Climate Element is currently available for public review, with community members able to provide input through October 8. This feedback period allows residents and stakeholders to influence how their communities will prepare for and respond to climate-related challenges.
Following the public comment period, officials expect to adopt the final Regional Climate Element later this fall. The regional plan will then inform individual Comprehensive Plan updates that all five participating jurisdictions must complete by 2026.
The collaborative approach allows the Tri-Cities communities to coordinate their climate responses while addressing shared challenges that cross municipal boundaries. Issues like air quality during wildfire events and regional water resources require coordinated planning efforts that extend beyond individual city limits.
The Regional Climate Element will establish strategies and policies for both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate impacts already occurring in the region. This dual approach addresses both mitigation efforts to limit future climate change and adaptation measures to manage current and projected impacts.
The 2026 deadline for updated Comprehensive Plans gives participating communities time to integrate the regional climate framework into their individual planning processes, ensuring consistent approaches to climate challenges across the Tri-Cities area.
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