Submitted by San Juan County

San Juan County has released the Phase 1 Engagement Report for climate resilience planning. This comprehensive summary of community feedback from the first phase of outreach will guide the development of the County’s Climate Element and Climate Action Plan. This process of gathering critical input will shape the direction of the County’s ongoing efforts to address climate change and enhance local resilience through informed, community-driven policymaking. Read the full report at: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/20822/widgets/67641/documents/58664.

Phase 1 Outreach

The Phase 1 engagement process was designed to build early awareness and momentum for climate resilience planning efforts, and to understand the community’s vision for climate priorities and solutions. San Juan County collected valuable insights through a community-wide climate survey and and a series of climate conversations facilitated by volunteer Climate Collaborators. The survey received 853 responses, and 46 climate conversations were hosted with individuals at events and in-home discussions, as well as clubs and group meetings.

Key Themes

Islanders’ responses throughout Phase 1 outreach activities centered around key themes, including:

Call for Leadership and Action: There is a clear call for proactive County leadership and forward-thinking action to address climate issues, specifically more strategic planning and effective tracking measures.

Community Engagement and Awareness: Islanders are engaged and interested in climate issues, with a need for ongoing education and positive framing to foster broader understanding and support.

Economic Considerations: Islanders are concerned about the costs associated with climate action and emphasize the need for financial incentives or support to facilitate effective climate measures.

Impacts of Tourism and Population Growth: Islanders expressed concerns about how tourism, second-home ownership, and population growth may affect the efficacy of local action.

Local Climate Impacts: There is a strong awareness of specific local climate impacts, such as wildfire risks, water scarcity, and poor air quality, which affect the community’s daily life and priorities.

Support for Specific Climate Solutions: Specific climate solutions were elevated, such as waste diversion, sustainable land use, natural ecosystem conservation, and preparedness for extreme weather events.

Water and Natural Resource Concerns: Islanders voiced concerns for the impact of climate change on water availability and the importance of protecting local environments and ecosystems.

Wildfire Mitigation and Resilience: Wildfire smoke and wildfire resilience are significant concerns. Islanders see addressing wildfire mitigation and enhancing community preparedness as a high priority.

Next Steps

The community feedback received will directly inform policy development, the climate vulnerability assessment, and CAP actions. The second phase of outreach, which focuses on identifying the community’s climate priorities, kicked off earlier this month and extends through the fall. Islanders will have a chance to learn more and help set priorities at a series of local events. A second survey will be part of the third phase this winter.

The Phase 1 Engagement Report, which includes summaries of the first climate survey and the first phase of Climate Collaborators, is available on the Engage San Juan County project page.

More Information

For more information about the Climate and Sustainability Advisory Committee and the County’s climate action work, please visit the Engage San Juan County Climate Action page at: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/climate-action.

About San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship

San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship is responsible for solid waste, marine resources, clean water, cultural resources, and climate and sustainability work. The department offices are located at 1609 Beaverton Valley Road, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship, visit www.sanjuancountywa.gov/839/Environmental-Stewardship