Logan Callen, Senior Environmental Analyst, 509.625.6500
Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 3:09 p.m.
The City of Spokane is embarking on an important journey to make our community stronger against the growing challenges of a changing climate. As part of the ongoing update to the Comprehensive Plan – a crucial document that guides how our city grows and develops – the City is identifying climate risks and vulnerabilities within our community. This information will help inform efforts to incorporate climate and resiliency considerations into the Plan.
One tool developed to better understand Spokane’s unique climate considerations is the Climate Vulnerability Index. The mapping tool that helps the Climate Planning team identify areas, people, and infrastructure in Spokane that are more at risk from climate hazards like extreme heat, wildfire risks, and health issues caused by heat and smoke. The Climate Vulnerability Index uses data from local, state, and national sources, and also allows for input from the public to improve our understanding of how existing and future climate hazards affect our community.
To put it simply, an index is a way to summarize different sets of data into one easy-to-understand tool. For example, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) helps us understand changes in the prices of everyday goods. Similarly, the Spokane Climate Vulnerability Index uses over 30 indicators to show which areas in Spokane are more or less vulnerable to weather events like extreme heat, wildfire smoke, or heavy rainfall.
The mapping tool helps the community pinpoint "hot spots" of vulnerability, providing greater understanding of why some areas of our community are more at risk than others. This information will ultimately help us develop the right policies to support areas most at risk.
The overall Spokane Climate Vulnerability Index combines the above factors to help us identify the areas and infrastructure most at risk from increasing climate hazards. The mapping tool allows the public to use filters of different information, allowing for a more detailed understanding and exploration of individual layers.
Through Spokane's climate planning efforts, the City will develop policies and strategies to increase the resiliency of our community, reducing the impacts of climate hazards. These strategies could include planting more trees and building shade structures, improving stormwater systems, creating defensible space in wildfire risk areas, or using drought-resistant landscaping for example.
As you explore the index, use the comment tool on the map on page 5 of the StoryMap to share your thoughts on the climate impacts you've felt and the communities, places, and services that are important to you. Your feedback can help determine what areas in the City may need targeted strategies to support increased resiliency. Go to the Spokane Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Index StoryMap, or click/tap the image below.
Also, be on the lookout for future Climate Planning engagement opportunities, including an Earth Day Community Workshop, and provide feedback on the Engage Spokane community space.
Have questions for the Climate Planning team? Contact us at climateplanning@spokanecity.org.
Learn more about the Plan Spokane 2046 Periodic Update to the Comprehensive Plan.
The City of Spokane Climate Planning project is funded by a state grant. The WA Department of Commerce climate planning grant is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available on their website.
