Kennewick meeting gathers public input on regional climate strategy amid concerns over wildfire, heat and water

City of Kennewick planning staff and consultants summarized early technical findings on heat, wildfire risk, drought and changing precipitation patterns and invited public input on a regional climate strategy that also aims to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

The meeting, convened by the City of Kennewick as part of a five-jurisdiction effort with Pasco, Richland, West Richland and Benton County, presented preliminary analysis and asked residents for reaction and priorities as staff draft policies to include in comprehensive-plan updates required under a 2023 state law that added climate requirements.

Anthony Mawai, planning director for the City of Kennewick, told attendees the five jurisdictions “are working together to develop a regional strategy to reduce the risk of climate-related hazards,” and that the jurisdictions are pooling resources and consultant support through the regional process.

Consultants laid out the project scope and timeline and reviewed key findings. Catherine Allison of Cascadia Consulting Group summarized a climate-impact analysis that examined historical trends and future projections under commonly used greenhouse-gas scenarios. Allison said the team is using the high-emissions scenario commonly called RCP 8.5 for much of…