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OSE outlines 2026 priorities and a climate action plan update; staff say city must accelerate emissions reductions
Summary
Office of Sustainability and Environment staff told the Land Use and Sustainability Committee that Seattle must accelerate emissions reductions and expects to release a draft climate action plan for public comment this fall, while developing a cross‑department tracking framework and continued community assemblies.
Office of Sustainability and Environment leaders on April 29 presented a 2026 work program and an update on Seattle’s climate action plan, telling the Land Use and Sustainability Committee they intend a more coordinated, justice‑centered approach and a public draft for comment later this year.
Sarah Cubias, OSE climate justice director, said the update focuses on “bold transformational actions” and on building a tracking framework that departments can use to measure progress. She described an assessment that gathered more than 250 climate‑related actions across 18 city departments and said the process will prioritize a smaller set of coordinated strategies that can move the city closer to its goals.
Cubias and acting director Liliana Ayala highlighted five cross‑cutting priorities for 2026, including building emissions reductions, transportation electrification, food access and resilience, urban forestry and inclusive pathways into green jobs. Staff said the office has used community assemblies since 2024 to surface neighborhood‑level recommendations and will host further regional partner forums and tools for council members to share with constituents.
Council members pressed staff on how recent policy actions — for example building emissions performance standards (BEPS) and low‑pollution neighborhoods — are accounted for in inventories and projections. OSE said inventories typically lag by two years and that the city will issue a new greenhouse‑gas inventory this year; the office is also developing technological tools and a five‑year reporting cadence to improve transparency.
The presentation also addressed climate‑related health risks and justice priorities. Ayala described OSE’s role as often convening other departments and seeking state and federal funds to amplify local efforts. Staff gave examples of implementation work — notably a clean‑heat program that has converted more than 2,000 homes off oil heat since 2017 — and pilot ideas such as electrified low‑carbon food hubs.
What’s next: OSE plans additional engagement, a prioritization phase during 2026 and a public draft of the climate action plan for comment in the fall; final adoption is expected the following year.
