A new model of climate governance is taking shape in Seattle — one that centers shared power, justice, and the lived expertise of those most impacted by climate change. Seattle’s approach to governance as it relates to climate-related issues is shifting. In 2024, the City of Seattle’s Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE), in partnership with the Green New Deal Oversight Board (GND Oversight Board), People’s Economy Lab (PEL), Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS), and Martin Luther King, Jr. County Labor Council (MLK Labor), launched a pilot initiative to bring residents and workers directly into the City’s climate decision-making.
The first Climate Resilience Community Assemblies pilot was initiated to deepen engagement with frontline communities most affected by climate change. The assemblies were implemented by community-based organizations with established and trusted ties to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, working-class residents, and frontline workers. They created space for participants to deliberate about local climate threats, share lived experiences, and co-develop actionable recommendations and ideas for the GND Oversight Board and OSE. Funded by the JumpStart Payroll Expense Tax, this pilot laid the groundwork for a long-term, community-led practice of collaborative governance and climate justice in Seattle.
The GND Oversight Board and OSE partnered with organizations already trusted to lead on the ground. They selected two Assembly Anchor organizations — ULMS and MLK Labor — based on their climate-aligned work and the communities they serve. Assembly Anchors are existing community-based organizations with deep relationships and strong community buy-in that lead a Community Assembly effort.
These two assemblies operated under three shared goals established by the GND Oversight Board and OSE:
- Engage community members and union workers in defining climate resilience priorities
- Develop recommendations to strengthen neighborhood and workplace solutions to address the climate crisis and environmental injustice
- Build long-term relationships between City stakeholders and those most affected by climate change
ULMS organized a neighborhood-based assembly centered on climate resilience for BIPOC and frontline residents, while MLK Labor convened union members and labor leaders to focus on workplace safety, green job standards, and public infrastructure in response to extreme weather.
Read the full report for their recommendations to advance climate justice in Seattle.
