Green New Deal
People of color are the most likely to live near and be harmed by contaminated air, water, and soil due to ongoing redlining and gentrification. People who are furthest from economic justice face a glass ceiling when it comes to getting climate careers. These issues present an opportunity for the City to bridge its justice priorities with its climate priorities.
In 2019, Seattle passed the Green New Deal Resolution (Res 31895) and Green New Deal Executive Order (EO-2020-01). The Green New Deal for Seattle is an initiative that creates new investments, infrastructure opportunities, and gives direct support to overburdened communities that bear the brunt of the climate crisis. City departments are working together to ensure these opportunities are building an inclusive workforce and improving outcomes of environmental health as we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
The Green New Deal for Seattle is funded by the Payroll Expense Tax.
The Green New Deal for Seattle is advancing climate justice through three pillars:
Addressing Climate and Environmental Injustice
Building Emissions Performance Standard
OSE provides support to building owners and managers to meet building requirements and reduce building emissions, with a priority on those buildings in or serving frontline and BIPOC communities.
Clean Heat Program
The city offers rebates to switch from oil to electric home heating for homeowners and renters looking to reduce climate pollution and reduce heating costs. Electric heat pumps offer heating and air-conditioning, making them a great solution for year-round comfort.
Heavy Duty Vehicle Electrification
The City of Seattle’s Heavy Duty Vehicle Electrification Incentive Pilot aims to bring new electric drayage trucks to the Duwamish Valley in the next 2 years, with the potential to scale as new federal and state incentives grant programs are developed and implemented.
Promoting Healthy Communities
We work to reduce environmental health inequities by supporting community-led solutions.
Environmental Justice Fund
We fund diverse community efforts led by or in partnership with those most affected by environmental and climate inequities. These efforts focus on addressing climate change and advancing environmental justice, including arts and storytelling, community education, capacity building, climate preparedness, and community planning and visioning.
Resilience Hubs
The Office of Sustainability and Environment is working with community partners and City agencies to develop a Citywide Resilience Hub Plan. The plan will include recommendations on how the City can assist and support a network of resilience hubs.
Invest in an Inclusive Economy
We promote living wage climate careers, small business development, and clean technology innovations to create a diverse, inclusive, and equitable low-carbon economy.
Climate Workforce Development
As we transition away from fossil fuels, we must diversify the clean energy workforce to meet growing demand and address economic inequities to ensure Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and women have access to critical workforce development opportunities that offer living wage jobs.