Climate Resilience Summary: As of the second half of 2023, global average air temperatures have already exceeded the 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) threshold since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. If these global average air temperature levels continue to rise unabated, it will be increasingly difficult for humanity to avoid the severe, physical consequences of warming that threaten local communities and ecosystems. According to the Fifth U.S. National Climate Assessment , the Pacific Northwest is already experiencing negative impacts caused by human-caused climate change. As a result of climate change and global warming conditions, the Pacific Northwest will continue to experience rising temperatures, more frequent and severe heat waves, reduced snowpack, diminishing stream flows, high-severity wildfires, post-fire flood impacts, flooding, and more intense precipitation events. These impacts threaten physical infrastructure, regional agricultural systems, natural ecosystems, water availability and quality, hydropower capacity, and public health. Unfortunately, climate impacts are not evenly distributed. Marginalized and historically excluded communities are disproportionally impacted by these climate change and environmental impacts. Therefore, it is imperative for
institutions and local communities to not only reduce climate warming emissions, but also implement climate adaptation and resilience strategies. Climate adaptation and resilience strategies aim to prepare institutions and local communities to withstand the shocks of extreme weather events and natural disasters fueled by a warming and changing climate.
Objective: Implement a campus-wide
Climate Resilience Plan by 2030 in collaboration with the local community, which will minimize climate impacts and disruptions to the University as a result of high- severity wildfires, drought, power outages, flooding, extreme heat, and severe weather events.
CWU is not immune to the social, environmental, and economic ramifications of a warming climate. Climate resilience planning and implementation will help CWU alleviate potential climate-related damages facing the most vulnerable campus community members, the institution, and the local community. Strategy: Develop a CWU Climate Resiliency and Emergency Preparedness Plan that will bolster our ability to withstand the shocks of climate impacts and natural disasters. Action Steps: • Conduct a “Climate Change Risks, Needs, and Vulnerability Assessment”, which will help evaluate where and how the institution is vulnerable to climate change impacts and determine the critical needs of marginalized and underserved campus communities. • Coordinate climate resiliency research, planning, and implementation efforts in partnership with City of Ellensburg, Kittitas County, and local and regional partners. • Align CWU climate resilience planning and implementation efforts with Washington State’s Climate Resilience Strategy, which prioritizes environmental justice and focuses on addressing climate change risks and vulnerabilities. Department Lead(s): CWU Sustainability, Capital Planning and Projects, Facilities Management Division, Academic Departments Initial and Ongoing Costs: $200,000 for the Climate Change Risks, Needs, and Vulnerability Assessment and Plan; Projected costs to support resilient infrastructure (e.g., battery storage replacing diesel-powered generators) is to be determined but will be included in the updated version of this plan.
Funding Opportunities: Climate Resiliency Planning and Preparedness grants from WA Department of Ecology and WA Department of Commerce; federal grants. Phasing Plan: • Utilizing the most recent climate science data, conduct a Climate Change Risks, Needs, and Vulnerability Assessment in partnership with the campus and local community. • Integrate assessment results into CWU climate resiliency and emergency preparedness planning. • Explore updating institutional policies to better reflect climate resiliency and preparedness planning and implementation. • Evaluate and implement cost-effective climate resilience measures for the purpose of managing risks, safeguarding the campus and local community, and absorbing and recovering from climate impacts. • Begin implementing climate resilience initiatives before 2030, including bolstering climate- related emergency preparedness and communications planning. • To manage the risk of sustained power outages, secure funding for clean energy storage, located specifically at CWU-owned buildings which provide emergency resources and shelter during natural disaster events. Equity Considerations: Ensure planning efforts anticipate and meet critical needs and prioritize emergency preparedness for vulnerable campus community members. Prioritize regional resilience actions that advance social equity and include local and Indigenous knowledge. Co-Benefits: Reduced risks to public health and well-being; increased capacity to absorb and recover from sustained power, heating, and cooling outages; reduced upfront costs and impacts associated with responding to natural disasters; increased nature-based solutions create new greenspaces; adoption of self-sufficient, clean energy storage infrastructure.
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