Climate Change and Comprehensive Plans, From Impetus to Implementation

Session 5B | Thursday | 2:30 – 3:45 PM (PT)

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. The passage of HB 1181 earlier this year created new tools and requirements for addressing climate mitigation and adaptation in comprehensive plans. This legislation creates the opportunity for Washington State to become a national leader in how we address climate change through our land use patterns and other local planning policies. In this session hear from the prime sponsor of the bill, Department of Commerce staff overseeing guidance and implementation, and advocates championing this new approach and supporting implementation at the state and local level. Learn about new state resources and ways to leverage local advocates and engage impacted communities in your climate planning work.

Alex Brennan

Alex Brennan is the Executive Director of Futurewise, Washington’s statewide land use advocacy organization, founded in 1990. Since becoming Executive Director in 2019, he has built successful campaigns to address climate change (HB 1181), housing affordability (HB 1220 and HB 1110) and habitat and farmland protection (SB 5042) in state and local planning. Alex serves on the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Growth Management Policy Board and is Vice-Chair of the Affordable Housing Committee of the King County Growth Management Planning Council. From 2011-2019, Alex worked as a planner at Community Roots Housing, where he led advocacy to dedicate public land for affordable housing, implement inclusionary zoning, adopt parking and transportation demand management strategies, and create more pedestrian-oriented streets. Previously, he worked as a real estate and economic development analyst and consultant in California. He holds a Master’s Degree in City Planning from the University of California, Berkeley.

Sarah Fox, AICP

Washington State Department of Commerce

Sarah Fox works as the Climate Program Manager for the Washington State Department of Commerce, where she oversees guidance, rulemaking, model element development and other implementation of HB 1181, which adds a new climate element to comprehensive plans in Washington State. Sarah has over 18 years of experience and expertise in long-range and current planning, land development, zoning, and economic development and is a nationally certified urban planner. Sarah received her Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning, and her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Community Development, from Portland State University. Prior to urban planning, Sarah worked as a construction cost estimator and for her family’s local ornamental metal construction firm. She served six years in the military with her last year of service on a combat tour. Sarah was elected to the Vancouver City Council in November 2019.. 

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Jamie Stroble

The Nature Conservancy

 

Jamie Stroble is a passionate environmental and climate justice advocate, network builder, and systems changemaker with over fifteen years of experience. Jamie currently serves as the Climate Director for the Nature Conservancy (TNC) Washington Chapter, a role that bridges policy and programs, and mitigation and adaptation. She led TNC’s policy work on HB 1181, with a focus on climate resilience. Previously, from 2015-21, she led the development of the first-ever climate justice framework of King County’s 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan, and founded and facilitated the King County Climate Equity Community Task Force, to center frontline communities in climate policy-making. She serves on the Seattle Planning Commission as co-chair, the Built Environment Workgroup of the Healthy King County Coalition, the board of the youth food justice organization FEEST, the University of Washington EarthLab Advisory Board, and was a founding Steering Committee member for Seattle's Environment & Equity Initiative.

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Davina Duerr, Representative 

Washington State House of Representatives

 

Rep. Davina Duerr serves as Chair of the House Local Government Committee, as assistant whip, and as a member of the Environment & Energy and Transportation Committees. She was previously a council member in the City of Bothell. Before taking office, Rep. Duerr was Vice President of the Northshore Schools Foundation and co-founder and co-chair of the Foundations’ M.I.L.K. Money campaign to raise money for students experiencing homelessness. She also chaired the Bothell Landmark Preservation Board for 8 years. Davina was the prime sponsor of HB 1181, passed into law in 2023, which adds a new climate element to comprehensive plans in Washington State. The legislation reflects her long-time comment on the intersection of climate change, housing, and environmental and social justice, including creating livable, walkable communities that cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, and infrastructure costs and make our communities more inclusive and accessible for everyone.

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