Climate change is a growing concern within King County communities and agencies. Since 1900, average annual air temperature in the Puget Sound region has increased 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit (°F). Heavy rain events are getting heavier, summers are getting hotter, snow and ice in the Cascades and Olympic mountains is declining long-term, sea level is rising, and ocean chemistry is changing in ways that are harmful to local marine species like shellfish and salmon. These changes are becoming increasingly visible in the form of more extreme weather events, higher King Tides, more poor air quality days from wildfire smoke, and less predictable snow cover for water supply and winter recreation, for example.
Reducing climate change vulnerability and building resilience is essential. As climate change intensifies, King County must strengthen its capacity to cope with hazards, respond to long-term shifts, and evolve in ways that ensure sustainability and equity. This requires not only adapting to immediate risks—such as extreme heat, flooding, and sea level rise—but also fostering the ability to learn, innovate, and transform in response to an uncertain future.
