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Everett · EVT-CP-2044 · Pages 217-224

Climate Change and Resiliency

The Climate Change and Resiliency Element responds to GMA requirements to adapt to and mitigate climate change effects, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease per capita vehicle miles traveled. It establishes quantified GHG reduction targets for both community and municipal operations and includes 31 numbered policies covering emissions reduction, renewable energy, resilient communities, tree canopy, urban heat islands, and tribal collaboration. The element references and incorporates the City's 2020 Climate Action Plan.

Climate Environment Social Economy Governance

“Only 2 of 31 Climate Change and Resiliency policies (6%) include a concrete, measurable commitment.” Real Record SAY vs DO analysis · Everett Comprehensive Plan

About this analysis

Real Record applies the SAY vs DO accountability framework to every chapter of every Washington comprehensive plan we publish. Each policy in the chapter is read individually and scored into one of four buckets:

  • Measurable — the policy names a specific target, deadline, dollar amount, or action that can be verified later.
  • Strong — binding action language (“shall,” “will adopt,” “require”) without a measurable threshold.
  • Aspirational — encouraging or supportive language (“encourage,” “support,” “consider”) with no enforcement.
  • Monitor only — policies that commit to tracking or reporting but not to action.

The accountability score shown in the sidebar is the share of policies in the chapter that landed in the “Measurable” bucket. A score of 0–19 (red) indicates most policies use aspirational language without concrete accountability; 20–49 (orange) is mixed; 50 or higher (green) means the chapter is dominated by measurable commitments.

The underlying text comes from the official adopted comprehensive plan published by the Everett planning department. Scoring is performed by Real Record analysts using a structured rubric; the raw policy text and bucket assignments are archived in the Real Record civic data warehouse.

Read the full methodology, sources, and rubric at Real Record · About.

What the Plan Promises
Formal targets adopted in the Everett Comprehensive Plan.
Community GHG emissions -50% from 2014 by 2030; community GHG emissions -80% from 2014 by 2050; municipal GHG emissions -50% from 2014 by 2030; municipal GHG emissions net zero by 2050
Goals (6 total)
  • CC-1: Everett community greenhouse gas emissions decrease 50% from 2014 to 2030 and 80% from 2014 to 2050.
  • CC-2: Municipal greenhouse gas emissions decrease 50% from 2014 to 2030 and to net zero by 2050.
  • CC-3: Increase renewable energy production and use.
  • CC-4: Everett is prepared for and resilient to impacts, hazards and emergencies related to climate change.
  • CC-5: Everett collaborates with the Tulalip tribe to build resiliency to climate change impacts and protect cultural resources.
  • CC-6: Actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produce co-benefits including improved local air quality and fewer traffic collisions.
Stronger Policy Language (13 policies in this chapter)
  • CC-9: Transition the City's municipal vehicle fleet and equipment to vehicles and equipment that use fuels with reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
  • CC-18: Protect and expand the city's tree canopy to reduce energy use, mitigate heat stress, manage stormwater, and sequester carbon and monitor tree retention and canopy on a regular basis.
  • CC-16: Address rising sea levels by siting and planning for the relocation of hazardous industries and essential public services away from the 500-year floodplain.
  • CC-26: Support implementation of the Climate Action Plan using a reporting system for key metrics including environmental justice impacts.
Show all 13 stronger policies
The four examples above are a representative sample. The remaining 9 stronger policies are catalogued in the Real Record civic data warehouse and indexed by policy number against the adopted plan text. See how policies are scored →
Aspirational / Monitoring Language (16 policies in this chapter)
  • CC-6: Participate with media and community groups that educate residents and businesses on the science of climate change and the benefits of climate action strategies.
  • CC-22: Encourage landscape design and maintenance and agriculture that reduces water, pesticide, herbicide, and synthetic fertilizer use.
  • CC-28: Promote local purchasing for businesses and residents to support local vendors and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from commerce-related transportation.
  • CC-30: Support neighborhood events such as garage sales that extend the useful life of items and clean-ups that result in recycling.
Show all 16 aspirational / monitoring policies
The four examples above are a representative sample. The remaining 12 policies in this bucket use language like “encourage,” “support,” “consider,” or “monitor” — phrasing that does not create an enforceable commitment. See how policies are scored →

SAY vs DISCUSS: Did this come up in meetings?

Real Record has not yet indexed any Everett briefings tagged to this chapter’s topics. Browse all Everett council and planning briefings to see related discussions in context.

View Everett Briefings →

SAY vs DO: Where the Money Goes

Departments related to Climate Change and Resiliency in Everett — what the city actually funds, year over year.

Budget analysis for this chapter is in progress. Real Record has mapped 2 Everett departments to this chapter, but the FY2006 / FY2025 line-item totals are not yet loaded into our civic data warehouse. In the meantime, browse the city-wide budget comparison on the index page.