Seattle Invests $100,000 in Community-Driven Climate Assemblies
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📰 The quick summary: Seattle launches community assemblies that empower frontline communities to directly shape climate policies and extreme weather preparedness plans, creating more inclusive local governance.
📈 One key stat: The 2021 heat dome killed more than 400 people in Washington state, highlighting the urgent need for community-driven climate resilience planning.
💬 One key quote: “When looking at policy, it has to be more than just data and numbers. Oftentimes, having seen [how policy has worked] in the past, we really have to connect with community members. We cannot afford to be disconnected with frontline communities.”
1️⃣ The big picture: Seattle is pioneering a new approach to climate policy by funding community assemblies that bring together frontline community members to help shape the city’s climate planning. Two organizations – MLK Labor and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle – are leading pilot assemblies focused on worker rights during extreme weather and community resilience. The assemblies gather union workers, Indigenous people, communities of color, immigrants and other vulnerable populations to share their experiences, discuss solutions, and make policy recommendations. This participatory model aims to ensure those most impacted by climate change have direct input into how the city prepares and responds.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The community assembly model creates meaningful civic engagement by empowering historically marginalized groups to actively shape climate policies that affect their lives. Participants gain confidence to engage with legislators and feel less isolated in facing climate challenges. The program builds trust between communities and government while ensuring climate solutions address real needs of vulnerable populations. With $100,000 in city funding, this initiative demonstrates Seattle’s concrete commitment to inclusive climate governance that centers frontline voices.
3️⃣ What’s next: The Green New Deal Oversight Board will use recommendations from these community assemblies to inform Seattle’s Climate Action Plan update and future climate policies. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is funding additional assembly pilots, suggesting potential expansion of this governance model. Organizers hope to replace traditional community engagement approaches with assemblies across more government agencies to strengthen civic participation in climate planning.
Read the full story here: Grist – Looking to create effective climate change policy? Ask the community.
