The burdens and benefits of climate change will affect King County’s current and future residents, communities, and businesses in different ways. Frontline communities are often hit first and worst by climate change impacts. This unique position generates critical expertise around the challenges posed to their communities and enables innovative solutions to manage daily impacts.20
Figure 19 shows the “Spectrum of Community Engagement to Ownership,”21 a tool developed by Rosa Gonzalez to help elected officials, government staff, and community-based organizations work together. It describes the different stages of working together, as well as some of the common costs and benefits that might be applied to policy development. Traditionally, many local government approaches to community engagement have taken the forms of “inform” or “consult” (columns two and three) on the Spectrum of Community Engagement. The limitations of these approaches can uphold a wide variety of barriers, from financial to institutional, that limit both community access to decision-making tables and the implementation of bold solutions that address the root causes affecting sensitivity to climate change.
By investing in climate solutions and opportunities in partnership with and for frontline communities, King County can advance a more equitable and just climate future for all.
What's at stake
Climate impacts to the region can have adverse impacts to human health, weather, flooding, and to economic stability for the region.22 At an individual level, this can translate to the disruption of pathways to gainful employment, poor health outcomes, and to barriers to food access, housing affordability, energy justice and utilities, and accessible transportation. For frontline communities, these impacts are intersectional and deepen overlapping disparities.
Effective action addresses climate change and social inequities simultaneously by understanding it is a threat multiplier to a host of social issues.
A better outcome
By investing in community-driven planning processes and partnerships, King County can take innovative and equitable action aligned with the priorities and expertise frontline communities offer. Recent initiatives related to climate have started the complex and rewarding work of centering the communities bearing the brunt of a changing planet.
What we've done to get here
- Funded an ongoing Climate Equity Community Task Force, a community working group of frontline community leaders collaborating with the County on climate initiatives, funding decisions, and policymaking.
- Piloted an annual Community Climate Resilience Grant program designed to support community-driven climate action advancing local priorities.
- Established community working groups advising on open space, equitable development, the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update, and the 2025 SCAP.
- Launched and expanded a NextGen Internship program focused on creating career pathways to climate policy, planning, and program development.