WA Political Working Group
The 2021 WA Climate Assembly proved that ordinary Washingtonians have the knowledge and power to work together to tackle the climate crisis.
In 2023, the PVOC WA Political Working Group is working to institutionalize climate democracy at all levels of decision-making across Washington State, empowering residents to meaningfully shape just, equitable, and effective state-wide climate solutions from the halls of Olympia to their own local communities.
2023 WA Legislative Session Priorities
Empowering Washington Youth Voices
High school students in Washington often graduate understanding the causes and impacts of climate change, but with few tools to engage in climate action. With increasing rates climate anxiety and despair among young people, research has found that participation in actions to addressing climate change helps to constructively counter these fears.
People’s Voice on Climate has proposed $124,000 in state funding be dedicated towards expanding a state-wide Student Climate Assembly program modeled after the 2021 WA State Climate Assembly. First piloted in Bellingham, WA during the 2021-2022 school year, SCA funding will support the development of a model Student Climate Assembly curriculum and provide resources for teachers to host climate assemblies in their classrooms.
Building State-Wide Capacity for Deliberative Democracy
State and local public engagement processes typically involve methods like town hall meetings and public comments that “invite” communities to participate in decision-making in limited ways. While well-intentioned, these participation methods often result in a lack of meaningful engagement, disempowering overburdened communities in decision-making that directly impacts them.
People’s Voice in Climate has proposed $100,000 in state funding be dedicated to training state agency staff to utilize Deliberative Democracy processes throughout their ongoing public engagement work. This funding would also support the incorporation of Deliberative Democracy processes into state agency public participation plans required by the 2021 HEAL Act, which directs state agencies to work to eliminate environmental health disparities across Washington.
Community Participatory Budgeting
The 2021 Climate Commitment Act (CCA) requires Washington to reduce air pollution in overburdened communities and invest proceeds from the newly-established carbon price in ways that advance equity for overburdened communities.
Recommended by the WA Environmental Justice Council and included in the Governor’s 2023-25 proposed biennial budget, People’s Voice on Climate supports the $38.6 million in proposed Department of Health funding for a state-wide community participatory budgeting program, a critical democratic tool that will support local communities’ direct participation in the process for allocating CCA funds to projects that reduce health burdens and climate impacts in overburdened communities.
GET INVOLVED
Are you a resident of Washington State?
Send an email to your state legislators and ask for their support of deliberative climate engagement funding in the 2023-25 state operating budget!